Decorating With Contact Paper

Covered Turntable 

Covered Tray

Here's a quick project that can be done in less than ten minutes for under $10.  I found this adhesive backed contact paper at Target for about $6 for a large roll, and couldn't resist.  I see this pattern everywhere lately on pillows, fabric, wallpaper, etc. So I came home and went a little crazy with it.

I found an old tray and a turntable that I use in our kitchen for serving, so I covered them both.  It sticks to just about any surface but can also be removed easily...thankfully!  (I had gotten a little carried away so I had to remove it from a few things!) 

If you don't want to paint but need a new look, this is a quick, low cost way to change just about anything!

~Simply Angie

Mantel Decorating for Spring- Part 2

My sister, Angie and I are definitely on the same decorating path right now. For me I love the warm weather and want to take care of my inside "stuff" so I can spend more time in the garden and outside this summer! I especially like a clean look around my fireplace and you might know already that I love love love simple and shabby chic. I found most of my items around the house to put my mantel together because who really needs more stuff?

  
I started my project with my shabby chic ottoman (previously posted) and I recovered an old, very cool chair for $1 from fabric I found at the thrift store. I know Nate Berkus would be proud of me because my chair is the bright color that pops in the room! My friend, Jill had given my a birdhouse so I painted it a cream color (acrylic paint) and placed it on top of a candleholder that was headed for my garage sale (I painted that with the same cream color paint), draped some old vintage pearls on the candleholder and wrapped a vintage lace doily around the bottom. I also placed some very light pink roses in the birdhouse. I put flowers in a an old juice pitcher that was my grandma's and added some sparkly clear glass pieces. I bought the mirror but it was 50% off and it was perfect! I used LED candles on a shabby chic ceramic tray (that I bought for my sister but she donated to me before I gave it to her). I placed an old vintage linen around the tray. The little kitty on the floor was my grandma's, I always remember it in her living room when I was a little girl. She always had the kitty on a pillow so I stuffed an old children's pillowcase with pillow stuffing and put the kitty on it. That's it - now I have a spring/summer ready mantel for under $25. Hope you like it as much as I do! Happy decorating!

OK, time for a funny story, grab your coffee. So my sister and I were Skyping because she was trying to help me arrange the mantel and the phone just wasn't working. So I had my laptop in perfect viewing vision for her and I was busy moving things around on the mantel. We were trying all kinds of ideas and as she was watching me I turned my back to the mantel to pick up more pieces to try and suddenly there was a HUGE crash!! Yes - it was the mirror and yes it was laying on the hearth of the fireplace, mirror side down. I looked at my computer screen and she was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes - she watched the whole thing happen!! She said it was like slow motion falling, so it seems like she might have had a moment to warn me?? Haha - anyway, all is well, the mirror did not break and the hearth is unscathed and we had a good laugh! That's the way things happen to us...it's all about building memories!

Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi

One Day Kitchen Makeover

Once again I have started another project. This time it was in my kitchen.  I had one cupboard that always seemed a little awkward to get into and frankly, my kitchen needed a little updating.  Since new countertops and floors aren't in the budget right now, I needed something cheap that was quick and easy to do.  I removed the doors and painted the back wall. I filled the holes and covered the screws with putty.  I used Acrylic paint (the kind that comes in small plastic bottles, sold at craft stores, Wal-Mart, and most discount stores). I couldn't find exactly the right color so I mixed a Tuscan Red with Burnt Siene.  I call it Reddish-Brown!  This project took less than a day and changed the look of my kitchen for about $3.00!  The nice thing about this project, paint is cheap and the cupboard doors can always be put back on if you decide you don't like the look.

~Simply Angie

Shabby Chic Ottoman Project

The project that has been looming in my mind for over a year - the shabby chic ottoman. I love love love shabby chic, it's the style that fits me best. Over a year ago I found the most awesome table at one of our local thrift stores for $10. The problem was that it didn't have a top. My husband said he could make a top, well...that just didn't happen. So I finally took it upon myself (and my son-in-law) to start the transformation. I spent many hours shopping yesterday for the perfect material and couldn't really find the perfect material. But then my mom and sister saved the project. My mom had a bedspread that belonged to my sister, the bedspread was headed for the thrift store donation pile until it landed with me. The colors are perfect, the material is quilted, and now I have a shabby chic ottoman. There were so many sites for this project but I wrote my own with the fewest steps possible, also I wanted it to be as inexpensive as possible.
This is my supply list:

• 1 coffee table of your choice - thrift store find $10.
• 1 piece of plywood or chip board (I used 3/8 inch thick but you could use 1/2 inch thick) mine was scrap wood, so it was free - yay!  I wanted the top to be 36 inches round but you can make it smaller or larger, and it doesn't have to be round, use what fits your table. (My son-in-law cut my circle due to my ban from power tools).
• I did not use foam from the fabric store because it was so expensive and the real truth is that I was irritated with the customer service at our local fabric store, I really need to let that go I suppose. So thanks to my sister's quick thinking, I used an egg crate mattress topper. I got it on sale for $11. Mine was 1 1/2 inches thick and I had planned on doubling that because I wanted my top to be 3 inches thick, but by using the quilted material, I didn't double it in the end.
• Glue of your choice, I used Gorilla glue.
•  Stapler and scissors. We also used a hammer to make sure all of the staples were secure.

Steps:

1. Lay foam on floor (or flat surface) and place the plywood on top of the foam. I cut the foam the size of the plywood circle with a scissor.
2. Spread glue on plywood top.
3. Lay foam on top of glued side, press down and turn it over so the foam is on the bottom to have some weight on it while it's drying. It took mine about 30 minutes to dry enough to work with it.
4. Measure material for ottoman top and add about 4 inches to the size of the top. I added a little over 6 inches so I had to trim the excess after I was done stapling.
5. Lay your material on the floor, right side of material on the floor, and place the wood top, foam side down, on the material.
6. Staple and slightly pull your material so you don't have any bunches of material or gaps when you flip it over.
7. Once you are done stapling, turn the top over and place on your table.
8. I glued the top onto the table base, but you can also use wood screws to attach it. 
9. Total project cost $21.

* Depending on your material choice and the thickness of your foam, you may also add quilt batting over your foam, then your material. You would do this between steps 4 and 5.

Shabby Chic cuteness!

Step 1 - My thrift store find!

Glue on the plywood top, then add foam

Foam glued and drying

Mom helping me with stapling

Place it on table base and glue

An hour later- ready to enjoy!

Love and peace,

~ Simply Tammi

Mantel Decorating

On an earlier blog I posted a similar idea for decorating a wall in my daughters room.  I wanted to show how this idea can be used in other spaces. I am always decorating and moving things around in my house but I always have a hard time finding just the right thing for my fireplace mantel. I have several pictures around the room and because the fireplace is the focal point of the room, I wanted something a little bit different. 
I used jute because it goes with the decor of the room. You can use what you have, like yarn, string, rope, etc. I used tacks to hold it up on each side of the fireplace. Look around your house for unusual items, pictures, postcards, etc. to display.  I had a bonnet from my Grandma, a baby shirt that was my Grandpa's, a letter someone wrote and some family pictures. This is a good way to get those family heirlooms out of a closet or drawer and use them for a display. It can be changed seasonally or updated as often as you like.  Happy decorating!

~Simply Angie

Decorating With Family Photos

Decorating with Your Favorite Photos

This is hanging in my daughter's room displaying some of her favorite pictures.  She used jute and pinned each end with a thumbtack, then hung the pictures from it with wooden clothes pins.  It hangs across one wall of her room, but could be used anywhere to display artwork or photos.


~Simply Angie

New Use For Old Cups and Plates

 As I was getting ready for Easter, I was looking around my house for something a little more "Springy" to put out. I had some glasses and dessert cups that used to be a set...until I broke a couple of them! I didn't want to get rid of them so I decided to make a couple of platters by turning the glasses over and setting plates on top. I was just using them to decorate so I didn't glue them together but if you want to use them for serving, they should be glued.  I used shredded paper and some eggs to make the nests.  Happy Spring Decorating!

~Simply Angie

  

Paper Flowers Wall Decor

If you are looking for a simple, inexpensive DIY project this one is for you! I saw this project on the Nate Berkus Show, by Destiny at A Place for Us Blog and I loved it! She was on the House Proud segment (one of my favorites) and I loved her house and clever ideas. These decorative flowers are made from paper (lunch) bags! She used them as adorable decorations around a fake fireplace. I loved the idea but I was nervous surrounding my real fireplace with paper. So I decided to use mine in the doorway between my kitchen and hallway. My husband noticed them right away (which is unusual) but he thought I bought them! He didn't believe they were paper bags until I showed him (I always like that part)!

I think these are a cute idea for party decorations so I am making more using lunch bags in the school colors for our upcoming graduation!

Supplies and Instructions:

Brown paper bags (lunch bags)
Scissors
Glue Stick

* Decoration for inside of flower is optional but I used coffee beans, sesame seeds, cloves, and a button.

* I sponge painted a couple of mine with acrylic paint

Cut the flap off the bottom of the bag, have it  facing you. Start cutting a leaf, any shape you want from the bottom of the bag on the right side. I started at the bottom and tried to stay close to the sides to get a rather large leaf. There will be 2 smaller, folded leaves that will just fall out of your paper bag, keep those they will will be your smaller leaves. You will need 8 leaves per flower, so 4 bags equals 1 complete flower. I folded my large leaves in half too and kind of bent them a little before I glued them together. I also sponge painted a couple of them to have a little variation.

1. To put your flowers together, you will start by gluing 2 large leaves together at the bottoms.
2. Repeat that step with 2 more large leaves. Glue these to the first 2 leaves - so it looks like you have a cross shape. I glued my next 4 large leaves individually (just kind of filling in) but you could just repeat the first 2 steps.
3. Do the same thing for your smaller leaves as steps 1 and 2.
4. When your smaller leaves have been glued together, place your smaller leaves over the larger leaves and glue them together. And there you have it - your large flower!  

 Here are the step by step pictures - let me know if you have questions.

 

larger flowers from 1 bag

glue together then do it again

larger flowers done

start smaller flower

2nd smaller set of glued to first smaller flowers

now take the smaller ones and glue to larger flowers

all glued together - you can add a middle decoration or not

 Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi

Homemade Spring Tree Decoration

This is a fun project and easy enough for kids to get involved.  I had lots of those plastic eggs left over from years of Easter egg hunts and wanted to use them for something. A couple years ago, I found this Egg Tree idea in a magazine.
What you need:

• cone shaped Styrofoam (Walmart or craft store)
• plastic eggs (white if you can find them, I used the colored eggs for this tree)
• some type of tissue paper or paper napkins with different patterns or colors
• mod podge or white glue
• small paint brush to glue the napkins to the eggs
• shredded paper or straw (to cover the Styrofoam between the eggs)
• hot glue gun to attach the eggs to the Styrofoam
• a container or plate to display your tree 

Start by cutting or tearing your paper napkins into small squares or strips.  If you are using glue, dilute it with a little water.  Using your paint brush, "paint" the pieces of napkin on the plastic eggs until the eggs are all covered. Depending on what paper you use, you can see the egg through some of them, this is where it might be nice to use the white eggs. (I think it just adds more color.)After they are dry you can hot glue them to the cone. I started at the top and went around the cone working my way down.  Then I filled in the open spaces with the shredded paper, placing glue wherever you need it.   I just set mine on the pail, last year I had it on a cake platter with pedestal. Look around and see what you already have that can be re-purposed.  Be creative and have fun!

~Simply Angie

Ball Jar Soap Dispenser

I have seen this Ball jar soap dispenser on several magazine websites and thought it was cute, useful, and goes with my home decor. So I decided, as I usually do, on a whim to try it making it myself. Some of the directions said to drill a hole in the lid. I don't use power tools, my sister and I joke that "we aren't allowed to use them" (we can be a little accident prone!) So for me the tricky part was trying to find something the right size. If you can drill-go for it!
What you need:

• a jar with a lid, I used a pint size Ball jar, but you can use any size or kind of jar you have
• a soap or lotion pump, I have seen them at craft stores, but I used one I had from an old bottle of soap
• instant glue, I used Krazy Glue (thanks to reader comments, hot glue does not work)
• a hammer
• something large enough to poke a hole to fit the pump through (I used several things, I started with a nail and then started bending the metal with a scissor (feel free to use whatever works, I probably would have been safer using a power tool - but I got the job done!)

I used a one piece lid, if you use the 2 piece (a lid and ring) they will have to be glued together. I poked my hole in the middle until I could stick the pump through, then glued around the pump on the jar lid. Within a couple hours I could use it. Have fun, but use caution! I would love to hear your ideas, we love getting comments!

~Simply Angie

Olive Oil Candle

What you need:

• a small glass jar or container
• olive oil
• a wick
• essential oil of your choice
• dried flowers or herbs(optional)

I made this candle with a small glass container I had that was my grandma's. You could use a 1/2 pint or pint jar with a lid.  It is a liquid candle so it's nice to cover when your not burning it. I put the wick in and stuck it to the bottom with some tacky wax, but you can also use melted wax, then I poured in the olive oil and added about 10 drops of lavender essential oil.( you can add more or less depending on the size of your container and how strong you want the scent)  I added dried lavender blossoms just because I had them- and I liked the look.  These are clean burning and don't smoke.  When the olive oil is gone you can just wash out the container, add another wick and make a new one. 

~Simply Angie

Wooden Stool Project

Here is another quick and easy project if you have things you want to update or give a new look to.  I have these stools in my kitchen. You can find them pretty cheap just about anywhere (garage sales, thrift stores, etc.). I updated them with a little scrapbook paper, paint, and one of my favorite things-mod podge! (it can be found at craft stores, and Wal-mart).  I painted the top, then cut the paper and mod podged them on the top and bottom of the paper. You can also use diluted white glue if you don't have mod podge.
~ Angie

Shower Curtain Window Treatment

 Last week the shade I had in my spare room fell down- again. This has happened so many times I lost count.  So I got fed up, we do use the room quite a bit, I needed something fast and cheap to put up.  I remembered I had a shower curtain that I wasn't using anymore.  I found some jute and tied it to the rod that had been using for a valance, and presto- I now have a cheap, simple window treatment!  When my daughter's room got a "makeover" I did the same thing.  I found 2 shower curtains on clearance, used the shower curtain rings and hung them from a rod.

This is a simple, cheap,no-sew window treatment project. Look around your house and see what you have lying around that you can use for a project-  Let us know what you come up with! 

~Simply Angie

Memo or Photo Holder

If you are like us and have collected some old hardcover books that have torn pages or ripped bindings laying around, here is an easy project you can do in just a few minutes.  I have made these before but just recently saw it on the Nate Berkus decorating show. I stuck some old photos in mine but on the show they used one on a desk for memos and notes. You just open it up and start folding the pages in half.  Toward the end I was getting tired, so I was folding some of the pages together, which worked just fine. You might not want to pick a book with 400 pages!  If you don't happen to have old worn out books you can find them cheap or even free at garage sales, thrift stores, attics and basements of relatives. I have several from my Grandma, she has notes in all the margins!

~Simply Angie