Living Room Re-lived.

Hello Friends.

I have been working diligently to revamp the living room in my new apartment. My last two posts feature projects I completed for such revamping including the building of ottomans and a window up-cycle. Make sure to check those out. Along with these two projects, I have done additional remodeling in smaller projects. However, most of these are so simple, I am not feeling the need to make tutorials because I trust you can figure them out on your own, but I wanted to offer some inspiration none the less. So take a look...this is how I spent last week.


Frame Collage

Mixed media collage of frames featuring traditional photos as well as artwork, illustrations, post cards and fabric

Ottoman Bench
 

Ottoman bench complete with hand-made accent pillow, vintage tray and candles. See my tutorial for making your ottomans at home.


Pillows

Fabric and Fiber Fill is all you need to sew your own pillows in the color scheme of your choice. If you haven't caught on, it's pink and purple.

Window Pane Light Boxes
 

Adding background paper and a string of Christmas lights to a salvaged window creates an interesting wall feature that adds a lovely glow to your room as night.

 Fabric Flag Banner

 
Use scraps from your sewing projects to add a fun detail to your room. Simple cut our triangles or the shape of your choice then attach to string and hang. A great way to adorn entrance ways or dress up empty space up high.


 Check Out Some Details

Hope you found some inspiration.

Until next time...
Keep your eyes on the sky...
<3 ray

Starry Skies Window Project

Hello Friends.

With up-cycling quickly gaining popularity in the blog world, I wanted to jump on the bandwagon and show you guys a project I completed recently. While I love cruising the DIY websites and blogs and replicating the great projects I have come by, I would like to boast that I came up with my own little plan recently to up-cycle an old window pane my dad and I salvaged from a construction site. Fitting with the theme of my blog, take a look at my Starry Skies Window....

Converting old window panes into light boxes quickly added a whimsical feel and magical glow to my living room. Its not terribly easy to show you just how lovely they glow using a cell phone camera as flash drowns out the light and no flash is really too dark, but hopefully you get the idea. If you want to make your own, it really is quite simple, and of course I will share the tutorial with you. Here it is...

What I am working with...

 

What you need to be working with...

1. Window Pane 2. Card stock or Poster board (in desired color) 3. Hole Punch 4. Screw Driver 5. Nail 6. Stickers (optional) 7. String of Christmas Lights (in desired color) 8. Staple Gun

 Here's What You Do...

Step 1. Create your background.

Cut out the necessary amount of squares to fill in each section of your window pane using a sturdy paper such as card stock or poster board. I needed six squares for my window and used a metallic silver poster board for my background. Since I was going for a star theme, I used a hole punch to make holes around the edges where the most light would come through. Hole punches can only reach so far so I also used a screw driver to punch slightly smaller holes into the center parts of my squares and a nail to create pin sized holes to fill in the space around the larger holes (I placed a foam pad underneath the squares while punching holes so as not to puncture my legs or my craft table with the screwdriver and nail. Try to come up with your own solution to do this part safely at home). I also added some shiny start stickers on the front of my paper to add a little shine from the front. These show up in daylight only, so they are optional. I just happen to have star stickers available at all times, that's just me though. Then I placed each square in its respective section of the window and secured with a little scotch tape or whatever type of tape you have lying around.

I used stars as my theme, but this is a very versatile project and you can do this in any theme you choose. Pick a different color paper, or use fabric. Instead of circular holes meant to represent stars, cut out flowers. I will be using white twinkle lights, use another color or multicolored lights. Do whatever suits your style or decor of your room.

Step 2. Add Light.

 

Using your staple gun, attach your lights to the back of your window pane, making sure to staple into the wooden frame. Make sure to turn the window as you go so you are stapling downward for easier application. I simply traced the edges of each section with the lights. As you can tell, it doesn't look very neat, but it doesn't matter so much as this is the back and will be hidden against your wall. Try to make the lights lay as flat against the panes as possible though for easy hanging later. Make sure to leave the plug for your light along the bottom edge so that you can easily plug them in when you are ready.

 Step 3. Hang and Enjoy!

Here's my finished project hanging in my living room. 

And here is what they look like turned on.

 

Like I mentioned before, pictures don't do the lighting justice, but you get the idea. The light shows up through the holes as well as along the edges of each section and from behind the entire pane itself. The silver paper and soft yellow light go with the weather worn window to give off a vintage feel and the impression of a starry sky beyond the window. Romantic, no?

 

The living room revamp to be continued...

 

Until next time...

Keep your eyes on the sky...

<3 ray

 

 

Igot-it@: Window, salvaged. Poster board, Joann Fabrics. Christmas Lights, Target. Tools, previously acquired.

 

ClickIt!:

http://www.joann.com//

http://www.target.com/

 

  

I Built an Ottoman, Man!

Hello Friends.

I busted out my carpentry skills on this DIY project, baby. And while I was mildly concerned about my woodworking abilities, this project ended up being surprisingly easy. Think about it...an ottoman is a cube with legs covered in fabric. With simplicity in mind, lets get started.

What you need to be working with...

1. Wood (specifications to come) 2. Wood Glue 3. Sand Paper 4. Cotton Batting 5. 2" Foam 6. Staple Gun 7. Fabric

Here's what you do...

Step 1. Get Some Wood.
At your favorite hardware store, purchase (2) 8-foot 1x3 pieces of plywood and (1) 8-foot 2x2 piece of plywood.

Step 2. Cut It.
You need to cut, or you need to ask your friendly saw-possessing friend, family member or hardware store employee to cut your wood into the following pieces:
(7)1x3 pieces at 15.5"
(4)2x2 pieces at 16"
(4)1x3 pieces at 15"
Sand rough edges with you sandpaper and get your wood glue ready.

Step 3. Glue!
Visualize your cube. This entire project was held together with wood glue, yes wood glue. Elmer's Wood Glue boasts a bond stronger than wood itself. Trust your Glue. Use your Glue. For one side, use 2 of your 2x2 pieces as your base, attach a 15.5" pieces along the top edge of the 2x2's. Attach another 15.5" one inch from the bottom. Repeat this process to complete a second side.

Then attach these two pieces using a 16" piece on each side along the top edge. While this was setting, I also attached the seat slats made from the remaining 3 15.5" pieces spaced evenly.

 

Use your last 16" pieces to secure your legs one inch from the bottom of your 2x2 pieces aligning with the pieces already attached.

And taa-daa! Your base is complete! You do have the option to add additional security to your seat slates by hammering a finishing nails into each side of the slat. I also painted the  1" legs of my ottoman in black spray paint, this helps make the end product more finished (see the painted legs in upcoming photos). Time to add the cush!


Step 4. Pad and Cushion.
Using a roll of cotton batting, wrap your ottoman base with with the batting and attach it with your staple gun. I used Farfield Family of Cottons 45x60-80x20 Quilters Cotton Batting.

I suggest stapling the batting on the top of upper edge so that the edges are soft and you avoid banging body parts into them when sitting on them later. You really only need to to staple on the top and bottom as the fabric covering will hold the rest secure. Top with a 2" thick heavy duty foam slab cut into a 16x16 square.

Step 5. Cut your Cover.
To cover your cube, all you need is 5 squares sewn together into a bottomless cube and then you just slip the baby on. I used a thick, utility fabric (Imagine canvas combined with upholstery fabric). Cut your squares into 17x17' squares. For those who are inexperienced sewers, though it is a 16x16" cube, the extra inch allows a half inch seam allowance on each side.

Step 7. Sew your Cover.
Sew four of your squares together edge to edge with a half inch seam allowance. Then attach the remaining piece to the top edges of these pieces to complete your cover. It should look like a bottomless cube as I mentioned earlier, but failed to take a picture of it. Sorry!

Step 8. Wrap It!
Slip on that cover. Shimmy it on, it should be snug so it will hold on the foam cushion and batting. Flip it over and use your staple gun to attach your fabric to the underneath bottom edge.

 

 

Step 9. Flip it!
You're Done. This is what the final outcome was. I made one in pink and loved it so much, I made one in purple!

Don't they look great? They were so easy to make I could barely believe that I built a piece of furniture. Either could my roommate who watched in disbelief during the entire process but she was pleased with the way they turned out so she agreed to keep them. 

Lined up with a previously owned piece, we now have a lovely row of ottomans that occupy the main wall in our living room. I added an accent pillow for a little flair. I have been collecting vintage trays lately and think they add some versatility to soft furniture since that can safely add a surface for displaying frames, candles, books or knick-knacks, so I threw one on. Of course, ottomans are light weight pieces that can be moved and used as a foot rest or to accommodate guests with a place to sit or set their drinks. Love it!

One of several projects to revamp the living room down, more to come.

Until next time...
Keep your eyes on the sky...
<3 ray


Igot-it@: Wood, Lowes. Elmer's Wood Glue, Joann Fabrics. Farfield Family of Cottons 45x60-80x20 Quilters Cotton Batting, Joann Fabrics. 2" Heavy Duty Foam, Joann Fabrics. Staple Gun, Ace Hardware. Utility Fabric, Joann Fabrics.

ClickIt!:
http://www.lowes.com/
http://www.joann.com/
www.acehardware.com/