DLF Designs (Decorating in my Limited Free-time)

Easy Art...

2011-03-03T16:14:00.000-06:00

I love little sayings around the house - I think it tells a lot about the person. Our home has it's share of scripture and quotes all around, each one special to us for a season or just a good reminder. Our MOPS group partners with a local Women's Clinic and a couple times a semester we try to do a project for them. One of the things the clinic does is give gift baskets to new moms. We thought something fun for the baby's room would be fun to put in these baskets. My wheels started turning and I came up with some easy art for a babies room, door, etc...

Start of with a basic tile (16 cents)

Grab some scrapbook paper & print your favorite quotes, lyrics or verses on it

Trace your tile around the quote (some of the formatting may have to be done prior to printing)

Then brush some modge podge onto the tile (I'm didn't take a picture, b/c my hands were a bit tacky.)

A little goes a long way - once it's on and smooth place your scrapbook paper verse on. SMOOTH IT OUT!! (I used my finger, but I'm sure a fancier tool would work too - a pot scraper, a pen, straight edge, etc..)

(someone please tell me that "he" on pink isn't going to be too much of an issue...I can't exactly change the words in the Bible, ya know?!)

Then cut some furniture pad felt - I bought the large rectangles of it and then will cut small strips

After that you can cut the strip into 3 pieces and secure it onto the back (oops, the ribbon is on already). This way it doesn't clang the door or make marks on the wall.

Then secure a piece of ribbon to the back with hot glue

You could also tie a bow and hot glue it to the front to spruce it up a bit :)

All 3 examples I made for the ladies to work from tomorrow - the last is my own artistic work. I know similar to a elementary school aged child - no shame, just the way I roll :) Except I used a sharpie - paint pens would work too, but I'm gonna guess crayon and washable markers aren't gonna fly on this.

You'll want to give them a quick spray of polyurethane to keep them from getting dinged up, losing their paper, or worse smudging the ink.

(Dontcha love my garage floor backdrop, I fixed it up real special for ya)

Go ye forth and be creative!! :)

[Unless of course that isn't your thing and I'd love to whip some of these up for ya - monograms, family plaques, verses, and much more - the sky is the limit here...just holler!]

Week #4 - no accountability!!

2011-02-23T17:46:00.000-06:00

My discipline is waning, doesn't say a lot of about me, since I'm supposedly only 4 weeks in - but whatev!
Last week this was my project - rather undertaking! We had a fun Valentine's weekend, welcomed some family for a extended weekend visit and this week I've been playing catch up with the house, laundry, and enjoying the beautiful weather. I suppose I could show you pictures of piles of unfolded laundry and then stacks of it folded as my project - but I'm hoping you have your own to look at (please, someone besides me falls into crazy masses of laundry - right?) I think it's the curse of the creative brain -- can't really stick to redundant activities like washing, folding, putting away-ing. I'd rather hide out in the craft room and play, check out some of my favorite blogs, or roam the aisles of craft stores.
I'll play craft catch up next week -- after the house is all caught up (hhaaa! oh the laughter that brings!)

Week # 3 (I may be off a week) - Quick Craft!

2011-02-03T16:39:00.001-06:00

This craft is so easy I dreamed it up while driving (which means it's super simple since I was driving safely, deej'n our drive, and probably answering one of the 30 bajillion toddler questions that I answer in a days time).

First I took this darling canvas and unwrapped it from a year ago (it was a gag gift, but I have on good record that it came from the dollar bin at T@rget - and can be found seasonally there and possibly even the $ Tree). So anyways here ya have it....(nope there is nothing canvas about this canvas - it's paper)

So then I found some batting (surprised me that I even had it, can not even tell you how close I was to using a basic burp cloth - which I think is a perfect substitute)

I wrapped it around the canvas to give it a lil' extra thickness and stability and of course I secured it with hot glue! Watch out :)

Then I grabbed some scrap fabric (which was actually more challenging than it should be - I have some cute green stuff I had for another project, wonderful basic painter's drop clothe and then a napkin set I grabbed up from W@l-mart for maybe 25 cents - talk about your cheapo fabric) Picking a fabric was actually the most time consuming part of this project.

Finally I picked the fabric and wrapped it around the canvas & batting - making a bit of a batting sandwich :)

My wrapping skills are really out of this world, right?

I intended to iron out the crease prior to wrapping it - oops! I pulled as tight as I could, now all I can hope is that a quick steam and time will loosen the crease - shucks!

I found some ribbon in my stash-o-ribbon and hot glued it to the back and tied a bow at the top

A great place for all those little lovelies you want to see in your craft room, a little sweetie in your nursery, or a perfect place to display a recipe while cooking!

You can also prop it up on a little easel -- see it there on the right! Love it! [hate the glare on the other picture...ah well, can't win 'em all :)]

Week #2 - Mirrors in Waiting

2011-01-23T15:15:00.002-06:00

It's been months since I bought some cute mirrors at Trees & Trends. I had some grand plans for them but time didn't allow and then once I'd have time I couldn't decided where I wanted to put them. Last week tho, once the snow had melted I was getting antsy, I needed a project! Currently I'm in the myhouseisnolongerdrowninginChristmasdecor&itfeelssonaked mode. I do like stage because it lets me start fresh - but I get little crazy and then nothing is safe from paint, hot glue, and a nail [really I took something I use on a regular basis and decided I just HAD to hang in on my wall...I may regret that, but so far so good :)]

Where were we? Oh right mirrors...So I bought these lovely little numbers a few months ago.

Oh sure they look great, but look closer...see not so great!

They were the last two left and it looks like they'd seen better days. When I saw them I thought, "ooo I could totally change them, well if they are a good price"

Unfortunately THIS is not a good price to me - especially when I'm gonna have to make them look much better. However, I did feel pretty good since they were marked down from $20. So I kindly asked the clerk if there was any possible way that I could get a discount (sometimes I don't know what comes over me, I think it's all the spray paint fumes that have gone to my head). By assertive I was and convincing I must of been cause that sweet gal asked her boss and bam - they gave me a discount! So I walked away with both of these for $14 - that was good for me (I'm pretty sure "me" came back around and was feeling mighty awful for even asking for money off)

So last week I brought an old tablecloth out, put the mirrors on them and got my glaze out. I was really hoping that the glaze would match perfectly to fill the big knicks. Buuuut, not so much. (see that white peeking out there...argh!)

So then I thought - "oh I have stain left from the table - that would probably cover a bit better and at least stain the white" so I got that out. It worked much better but I had to rub it over the entire mirror. Still when I was rubbing on and rubbing off large white spots were peeking through.

So like any good crafter I resorted to the cure all - enter the brown sharpie! Oh yay, no we're talking baby! That sharpie added the extra coverage and then once I put the stain over it again we were good! I just love the way they turned out and like the distressed parts. I'm loving were I finally decided to hang them too -- it did cause for a bit of a rearranging domino affect, but that is part of the fun!

See ya next week (or technically the end of this week...I'm a bit behind)

Week #1 - Project fail

2011-01-14T15:57:00.000-06:00

Maybe it was due to all this that I didn't get anything done for my first week. One would think quite the opposite and that I would dive headfirst into project-land.

But I'm thinking that it was this that actually slowed the creative mo-jo! There has been a lot of sniffling, sneezing, coughing, congested, eye pressure, doctor visiting, pharmacy running, and nose wiping around here.

So the most that I got done was this...cute kid and all :) [Technically the boy is a project all on it's own, but I mean really - I neither decorate with him or can take all the creative credit for him]

But one time I did make this - and I can tell ya how, super easy like :)

First I bought a super cheap set of twin sheets from target (I paid five whole dollars - that's a lot of fabric for not much moola). I doubled the flat sheet over and wrapped it around the nap mat, then cut it to size (with a bit left on the edge). I then turned the sheet inside out and used stitch witch to bond the whole thing together. I found some soft minky blue fabric to add to the top (using the hemming/bonding tape again) and then slipped the mat in just like a pillow into the pillow case (needed to have it done this way so that it could slip off easily for washing - which it has held up to nicely! I've only had to run an iron over one edge once!). For the actual pillow I took one of the pillow case and put a small travel size pill into length wise (so I would only have to bond one side) Cut the excess off and attach another minky piece (while inside out of course) and Voila! You got yourself a nap mat cover and pillow case. Now I know those aren't great directions and there are certainly no measurements - but this project was totally fly by the seat of my pants, like night before preschool started hand to "pull it together" type of project. I essentially used what I had on hand (and didn't sew, which would be easy to do, b/c the singer and I had a knock down drag out fight and all I have to say is we both lost! She is still in pieces and my brain is no more together at putting her back together than it was when I decided to take her apart) But it just proves that you can do a whole lot with very little and it can still be done with ease.

Supplies; iron, stitch witch, fabric, nap mat, scissors, pillow/stuffing

Up in my head

2011-01-06T15:49:00.000-06:00

There are a gazillion ideas to tackle; okay maybe it's more like 50...but if I hold off any longer there could easily be a gazillion ;)
This year I plan to tackle a bunch of them and blog about them here; maybe I'll be rearrange my furniture, painting walls, applying bead board and board & batten, adding more to my walls, and lots of other little projects.
I've taken a bit of time off from exerting my creativity - but with the new year comes new energy...so I'm challenging myself to a project a week. If I were super organized I'd have a pretty lil' list with all the projects on it - but you see I'm not so I don't have one. Maybe I will someday and I'll post it all fancy like on the sidebar; today, however, is not that day. Sitting here and professing this is as good as it gets. So a new post will be coming at ya next week, so stop on back to see what I'm doing (if anyone is actually reading this)

FEATURED!!

2010-10-27T14:44:00.003-05:00

Hop over to Better After and see our Kitchen Table redo, have to admit I'm a bit giddy about being featured! ;)

A table Re-do

2010-10-14T19:59:00.001-05:00

We've had this table for 6 years but for 20+ years before that it was my family kitchen/dining room table. Birthday's were celebrated around it, friends & family gather by it's side, homework and tutors made their mark, and memories were made. When we were "gifted" the table it was a back up, with plans to get something we liked within some time. As a newly married couple we had hopes of new dining sets, espresso finishes, modern lines, and something that screamed us. Little did we know that "us" was something that could not be determined within in the first year of our marriage (as we are noticing with other first year purchases) and "us" didn't have any money when we first got married. So a free table won and we welcomed it with open arms.

Last weekend after months, no years of browsing stores and catalogs we decided to take the table into our own hands. We've found our style and more so - I've stopped rejecting my roots as a girl who loves herself some distressed pieces that look like they've spent years in a farm house or were rescued from a barn. I grew up in the midwest and I can't deny those county decorating roots - now we try to steer clear from powder blue & mauve and you won't find forest green in our home unless it's Christmas but we enjoy some french country style.

When I saw this table & chair set I knew that it was speaking to me and my kitchen.

I'm a sucker for barn red anyway, so the chairs (and cabinet) drew me in. I also have a weakness for not being "matchy matchy" so this set played to that affinity too! I showed it to the mister and we set out to create our own, much cheaper, PB kitchen set.

Very similar, right?? We'll work on our letter chandelier later (hahaa) & the plates aren't far from hanging on the wall oh and I'm gonna need to be on the look out for a rug like that (that doesn't cost a gazillion $$ :)

yup, these pictures aren't so great - I need to take others, maybe she just wasn't up for the photo shoot

All "falled up" and no place to go ;)

Let's just say we gave our table a face-lift & it looks 30 years older :) The years of pencil pushing, silverware sliding, craft creating, and homework happening around this table gave it just the distressed look we were going for and we couldn't be happier with the way it turned out!!

Hang a verse....

2010-10-14T19:28:00.001-05:00

Probably could of come up with a more catchy title but I don't have one. I made some cute wall plaques for some friends tonight and love them! They were super easy and I love the fact that they can be personalized with a verse that is fitting for that person.

Care to see a closer look...

How about one of these for family, friends, or a favorite teacher during this holiday season?

A kitchen for 2!

2010-08-26T10:05:00.000-05:00

Our sweet niece turned TWO in late July and I wanted to make her the perfect girlie gift. Upon getting the "go ahead" from my sister in law, Ryan and I got to work.

Spray painted sink faucet & knobs (later to be repainted silver and H&C written on them, the bold colors clashed with the pretty pink)

More sprayed parts; knobs for the stove and burner pieces

The sink; a little scuffed so we sprayed it to match the rest of the brushed nickle accessories

Ryan tracing for the burners - who knew small flower pots would be the perfect size

Making the cut for the sink - he insisted on doing this part because we just got a knew tool and he wanted to use it :)

There are no pictures of me painting because well...I was painting. I used Behr two in one paint (with the primer) and the color was Cafe Pink -- it covered so well and only needed two coats. I will advise to refrain from doing this in the heat because the paint did not wanted to stick and resulted in us peeling all the paint off and painting it ALL over again. OOPS :)

Loving the finished product:

We added a handle on the outside to mimic that of an oven and the three flower decals add the perfect girlie touch and cover the hole from the previous knob to the drawer

I added a strip of velcro to the top of the oven door and where it meets the shelf so it wouldn't fall accidentally.

On the side we added the little hooks so she could hang the fun little kitchen tools, that I failed to take a picture of. Some heart shaped measuring tools; cups & tbps, a couple rubber spatulas, a hot pad and a lil' tot sized apron.

This was such a fun project and one that I'll definitely want to do again :)

PBK inspired bookshelf

2010-05-13T18:03:00.000-05:00

If you spend any time flipping the pages of designer store catalogs then you know there is a lot of inspiration to be had there. I pair a lot of gasping with my page flipping since typically the prices are SO ridiculous -- or I'm TOO frugal.

A few months ago I saw a cool bookshelf and that was all it was -- a cool bookshelf. I didn't get it much more thought until my sister in law mentioned wanting one for my nephew's room but not up for paying the price. At the time I was not spending any time doing woodwork or even giving it a thought. When the topic of the shelf came up it was actually to see if I knew if someone could re-create it.

Fast-forward a couple of months and it is winter. Just a couple of weeks prior to Christmas I got the woodworking bug and decided to make good chunk of the presents we were giving. (I get wild hairs like that and just go out and tackle things - I will have to say my husband was a bit shocked when he got a call from me at work in regards to the usage of his circular saw. Always keep'n him on his toes). It was on one of my late nights of working where the spray paint fumes and saw dust were starting to cloud my brain and I decided that I was going to make the bookshelf that my sister in law had been eyeing. I looked over it several times and developed a plan. After several trips to the home improvement store and hobby lobby; I had my supplies.

Well Christmas came and went and my goal was to finish the project for my nephew's birthday (early January). Well wouldn't ya know that it came and went and the weeks wore on and it just didn't seem like I could spare any amount of time to be out in the garage playing carpenter. So finally in March I drew a line in the sand (eerrr..sawdust) and decided I HAD to get the bookshelf done.

There were many ideas I had rolling around in my head and as I sat out to do it I realized that I was going to need some help from my mister. He has terrific ideas and can execute them so wonderfully -- I have to admit that my ideas aren't always executed well, especially in uncharted territory.

Here are a few "at work" pictures :

(the hood of my car is an appropriate work space - right?)

Coming together -- except not "together" AT ALL!

After 2 coats of bright white spray paint (matches my nephew's room and I didn't have the budget or patience for stain)

Here she is

And a view from the front

We (or I) opted for 2 shelves instead of 3 since it was my first go around and I wasn't sure how it was all going to come together. It works well for my nephew since this piece hangs over his bed and I didn't want it to be too heavy. They just picked some of his favorite books to display - I'm not sure there is a bookshelf big enough to contain all the books our kiddos have (with have some book loving gift givers in the fam...so there is no shortage)

I'm linking up here

Welcome to Fort Giffen

2009-08-04T11:18:00.004-05:00

{I realize I'm WAY behind on posting pictures here...I'll bring it up to speed this weekend, promise}

Dog days of Summer...

2009-06-16T14:59:00.002-05:00

Best Friends...

2009-04-21T23:25:00.000-05:00

Home Sweet Home...

2009-04-16T22:08:00.003-05:00

Egg-plants

2009-04-15T17:50:00.003-05:00

Basket of Eggs

2009-04-15T09:24:00.001-05:00

When you're out of laundry baskets...

2009-04-11T23:45:00.000-05:00

Welcome home!

2009-04-11T23:44:00.002-05:00

Mr. Warner; you're a good man!

2009-04-11T23:41:00.000-05:00

Somedays its just TOO hot...today was 1 of them

2009-03-30T00:23:00.002-05:00

Something always has to give...

2009-03-20T15:12:00.003-05:00

yesterday it was the dishes

A boy & his "bwoon"

2009-03-17T14:59:00.003-05:00

[and his diapers, and a present, and a bunch a junk on the stairs ;)]

It's okay...We live in Tennessee

2009-02-16T19:26:00.003-06:00

sick kids sleep ANYWHERE!!

2009-02-13T15:27:00.002-06:00

Colorful & Edible

2009-01-28T10:16:00.003-06:00

Future Photographer...

2009-01-26T22:30:00.002-06:00

Will took this picture of himself...guess he missed most of his face ;)

"Old Mac Donald had a ?"

2009-01-14T16:03:00.002-06:00

This is how Will set up his farm the other day

My Friend...(i mean) Weakness

2009-01-08T15:33:00.001-06:00

Missing Mate...

2009-01-06T15:26:00.001-06:00

Memories Still being made...

2009-01-04T22:19:00.001-06:00

We are still taking pictures and making memories here at the Giffen house I've just slacked on my "photo a day". I'll be sorting through pictures and updating soon! Check back for more random pictures from a day in our life ;)

Why the Cowboys lost...

2008-12-11T21:13:00.004-06:00

fans taking too many breaks for pictures ;)

"How sweet it is to be loved by you..."

2008-11-23T13:03:00.002-06:00

An apple a day...

2008-11-16T22:16:00.001-06:00

When he liked holding our hands...

2008-11-14T22:47:00.002-06:00

Pretty sure he's outgrown it...what do you think?

2008-11-12T22:47:00.002-06:00

Faith...

2008-11-09T00:02:00.003-06:00

Can you see him...now?

2008-10-31T14:54:00.003-05:00

Family Feet

2008-10-27T23:19:00.001-05:00

Can you see him?

2008-10-27T23:16:00.001-05:00

Cutest lil' jailbird I ever did see...

2008-10-10T10:26:00.001-05:00

Stopping to check out the lil' lady!

2008-10-07T16:56:00.001-05:00

Do these go with my outfit?

2008-10-03T14:18:00.003-05:00

1 of these has got to have a button for "Handy Manny"

2008-09-29T22:11:00.002-05:00

Come back here, dog!

2008-09-26T21:53:00.001-05:00

For Jere!!

2008-09-26T21:51:00.001-05:00

5 o'clock shadow?

2008-09-18T16:16:00.001-05:00

Dad??

2008-09-12T15:44:00.002-05:00

Mom??

2008-09-12T15:43:00.002-05:00

Ambidextrous?

2008-09-11T12:25:00.003-05:00

The risk of living on the top shelf...

2008-09-10T13:23:00.000-05:00