I Made it Without my Hubby!!!

Hi friends, it's that time again!  I Made it Without my Hubby Link Party and Giveaway is here!  We can't wait to see all of your fun projects.

MAKE SURE YOU ADD OUR BUTTON TO YOUR POST!!

We will be sending one lucky winner a brand new pink hammer from Tomboy Tools and we will also feature several others!

The rules are as follows:

~Enter ANYTHING that you have made with your own two hands. This can be ANYTHING!!!!

~Link your post back to our party with our button or our URL!

That's it!

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask and if you are still confused about how to 'link-up' leave your post as a comment and we will link it for you!

Ready...set....Link up Ladies!

Contact Paper Art

Hello guys!!  I made a fun piece of art I wanted to share today.  It's simple, sooo cheap, and fun to do.

Here is how I made it...

You will need a 16x16 MDF board from Home Depot.  Lowe's only sells this in the huge 4x8 sheets so I went to Home Depot and bought the 2x4 piece and used my saw to cut it in half.  If you don't have a saw, just ask one of the nice men at Home Depot to cut it for you:)  An $8 2x4 piece of MDF will make 3 16"x16" pieces... so cheap!

Now you will need some Contact Paper.  I bought my huge roll at Target.  You need the peel and stick kind.

Now, I used my Cricut personal cutter to make my letters.  This really is such a great and fun investment for all you gals! (Valentine's Day is just around the corner ;)

I used Storybook font for this project.  Just cut a piece of the Contact Paper and place it on your cutting mat.

Type in your letters and relax while it does all the work for you... My kind of tool:)  This is my first word I cut.

After I cut all my letters I wiped the MDF down with a damp paper towel to get rid of most of the dust.  I then peeled my letters from their backing and attached them to the board.  I measured off center and then used the piece of Contact Paper I had cut from to help me line my letters up correctly.  When I was finished it looked like this.

Now I gave the whole thing a coat of my favorite blue paint.  You want to use latex or acrylic, not spray paint for this part because the spray paint will run under the paper.  Here is mine drying.

Now the fun part.  I just used a pair of tweezers to pull up each letter after the paint dried.

Now I was left with my board and the unfinished letters that looked like this.

Then, I distressed the edges and corners with my sander and added a bit of dark wood stain just to the edges and corners to darken them up a bit.

And finally... Ralph Lauren Smoke Glaze over the entire piece.  Just paint it on and wipe it off.

I decided it would look super cute on a great plate holder I found at Hobby Lobby for like $5.  It would also be great hanging from the wall or just propped up against something.  What do you think?

Tomorrow is the BIG Day!! We are so excited to see what you guys... I mean girls bring to the party:)  We will put the post up at 9:00pm central time.  Remember... we want to see anything you have created, crafted, or thrown together without the help of your hubby.  You must link back to the party with our button.  You can get it on our side bar.  Thanks so much!!!

~Whitney

Recover a Lamp Shade ~ DIY

Hey Guys!! Hope everyone is having a great Monday.  Two of my kiddos returned to school today so I finally had the time to start revamping again... woohoo!  I am planning to fix up a little table to go next to one of our chairs and decided I need a lamp for the top.  I recently received a pair of shades as a hand-me-down that I thought would be perfect.  I love the shape of them... They just needed a new fabric.  Here's the finished product...

Now here is how I did it...

I started with this lamphade.

I removed the trim on the inside of the lamp by pulling on it.  You would do the same if your trim was on the outside of your lamp.

Then I want to pull the outside fabric off the shade.  This one was easy to do but if it won't pull away you want to cut it really close to the metal without cutting your liner fabric.

I did the same thing on the opposite end and it looked like this.

Then, it will just pull of the lamp like a sleeve.

And you are left with just your liner fabric.

Every lamp is different but the idea is to remove your top fabric without hurting your lining.

Now you can use your top fabric as a pattern for your new fabric.  I found this great blue linen at Hobby Lobby that I love.

I just put the pattern on top of my linen and started cutting. I did add about 1/2" just to give me a bit mor fabric to pull on.

After you cut your fabric out you will need to attach the ends of your fabric together.  For those of you with a sewing machine this will require a simple straight stitch.  For those non-sewers... you can attach these ends by using a fabric glue like Liquid Stitch or Mighty Mendit.  I did sew mine, right sides together and it looked like this.

Now you should have a sleeve when you turn it right side out like this.

I then just pulled it over my shade like this.

For the next part I used clothespins and wooded sticks like tooth picks.

I also used E6000.  It's a great craft adhesive and you can find more info on it HERE.  I purchased mine at Michael's for around $4.

It squeezes very slowly out of the tubu so I just put a little bit on the end of a wood stick and then put it around the top of the shade.  I did about 4" at a time.

Then just fold your fabric over and secure it with a clothespin. Don't be stingy on your pins... I used LOTS.

A bigger section drying...

And the whole top drying...

When that was dry enough(about 20 minutes) I removed the pins and did the same thing on the other end.  The only difference is that you want to pull your fabric tightly as you secure it with the pins on the other end.  Once that was dry my shade looked like this...

I used my inside trim I pulled off to cover up my raw edge.  If your lamp didn't have any inside trim you can use a ribbon.  I used my hot glue gun for this part.

Much better...

My last step was to make my decorative trim for the outside.  I did this by cutting two long strips of fabric about 1.5" wide each.

You just fold it in thirds and iron.  Start with your first side...

Then, fold your other side on top of that and iron.

The top will look like this.

Now I used my hot glue gun again to attach the trim.  Just run a line of hot glue on the edge and attach the trim.

When you get back to where you started just fold your other end over and attach it with glue.

My finished shade...

And a few action shots...

Hope you guys like it!

Now... We are only a couple of days away from I Made it Without My Hubby!

We want to see everything you gals have done without the help of your hubs.  No specifics... just any craft, project or revamp you have done with your own two hands.  You can grab a button below or on our side bar.  Thanks!!

<center><a href="http://shanty2chic.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Shanty 2 Chic" src=" http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/ad205/whitters015/hubbypic-2.gif"/></a></center>

~Whitney

Bathroom Mirror Quick Fix ~ DIY

Are you sick of your boring bathroom mirrors?  Do you want a chic look at a shanty price?  How about revamping them by yourself in minutes?   If you answered yes to any of these questions then you are in a place I was several months ago.  I found my quick fix with Mirredge!

One of the first projects I wanted to start on in my house was the boring builders stock mirrors.  My plan was to take off the mirrors and replace them with framed mirrors ~ even on sale they would be very expensive and I have many other projects to spend money on.  So, I opted to save my money and wait.  That is until I came across Mirredge! 

Whitney came over and we got to work!

I started with the boys bathroom.  ANYONE can do this but I would like to show you exactly how I did it!

Mirredge comes packaged in sets of two so I bought 2 sets ~ one set for the horizontal trim and one for the vertical trim.

 I then bought 1 set of 4 corner plates. They cover the seams and add a nice aesthetic touch.

The trim is 59.5” long, so roughly 5’. The instructions say to measure each piece on the mirror, score and then crisply snap the trim to get the right fit. I used the circular saw because it was a tad faster. Measure the vertical strips first and then the horizontal. After you cut them down to size there are double-sided adhesive pads that come with the trim – just peel and stick (we put 4 to 5 on each strip).  Then add small dabs of a liquid adhesive next to each adhesive pad (i.e. Liquid Nails is a low cost option that works well).

Then you just press the trim onto the mirror!

Once you have all of the trim up it’s time for the corner plates. No cutting here ~just peel and stick the double sided, adhesive, strips and fit to each corner!

Remember the Before...

and here is the AFTER!

I just love how custom my boys mirror looks now and it completely transformed their whole bathroom! Total time invested – 30 minutes! I highly recommend this product to anyone that wants a chic look in minutes!

Okay, so I loved this product so much that I went back to the store that night to get more trim for my master bathroom.

This line also carries seam plates that cover seams when you need more than 5’ of trim. My master mirror needed about 6 ft. on the horizontal pieces so I bought 1 set of 2 seam plates.

You want the seams in the center of the mirror for aesthetic purposes so I had to buy 1 set of trim for the top and 1 for the bottom and then 1 set for the vertical sides. I measured the horizontal pieces so that they met in the center and followed up with the same steps we used for the boys bathroom. When I was done I added the seam plates to cover the seams in the center with the double sided, adhesive, pads and that was it. I LOVE MY MASTER BATH SO MUCH MORE NOW! Total time invested – 30 minutes!

Before...

After!

I had so much trim left over that I decided to do my half bath also!  The only purchase I made for this mirror was the corner plates!

At the end of the day I had customized three bathroom mirrors / which in turn transformed all three bathrooms (in about 1.5 hours) ~ it just doesn’t get any better than that folks!

Mirredge is available in many styles and colors.  I purchased the Cherry Walnut.  You can go HERE to see a list of styles and colors!

You can purchase Mirredge at select Home Depot stores or on the Home Depot Website.

You can also visit HERE for an online order form!

This is the perfect time of year to begin new projects and I can promise you this one is so quick and easy!!!  Happy New Year to you ALL!

~Ashley

The Most Beautiful Lego Table Ever...

Hey guys!  I made it back from out of town safe and had a little something to show you before I start my own projects.  I spent the last few days with the two most talented people I know... Literally.  They ooze creativity and everything they make looks like it cost a million bucks even though it is usually made with pennies.  It's my husband's mom and step-dad.  She is the one who taught me to sew along with MANY other things.  He is an amazing artist and woodworker.... Lucky me, right???   Well, we had discussed that my younger daughter was loving Legos right now and they suggested a Lego table.  I jumped on that and they got to work.  My jaw dropped when she opened it this last weekend...

Yes... That is a Lego table!  I told them that I was going to steal it from my daughter because I loved it soooo much!

He used 2x4's cut in half for the legs, some scrap fiberboard for everything else and then used a medallion they found at Hobby Lobby for the center detail.... Oh... I love it....

He spray painted the entire thing with Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch in Black... Man of good taste:)  He then glued the two Lego boards to the top using a bit of Gorilla Glue.  I have it next to her bed for the moment but I think it will move to another part of the room soon.  Now it just needs a cute stool... I have added that to my project list:)  What do you think??  Did your jaw drop like mine?? 

Thank you Gigi and Chemmy for this AMAZING gift.  My kids are so blessed to have both of you in their lives.

Get those posts ready for January 7th!  These don't have to be big projects... Just ANYTHING your two hands have made without the help of your hubby's!  Have a great Wednesday!!

~Whitney

Black Beauty

Hi all!  I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas!  I have so enjoyed spending time with John and the boys ~ I was going to try and get this post done yesterday but we were bumbs, to say the least, and I just didn't get around to it...but here it is!!! 

I don't think I have done a non-Christmas project in a month or so....kind of feels like I'm reconnecting with an old friend!!!!  Ahhhhh....furniture rehab.....feels good!

So I bought this little shanty at my favorite thrift store downtown!  I loved the lines and already had a perfect spot for her!  She needed a new paint job and some rehab to the rickety leg joints but she was exactly what I had been looking for ~ in the back of the car and home we went!

4 MONTHS LATER.......

After using her as a saw horse, paint table and storage shelf, she was ready for her makeover!!!

I lightly sanded the entire surface of the table and sprayed 3 coats of Rust-Oleum Canyon Black all over!

I then used my 3M sanding block to distress ALL of the edges to give her a good worn look!

Not completely satisfied to leave her as is, I purchased this unfinished wooden piece at Lowe's for under $5 and painted it with Antique White acrylic (we have had low temperatures this week and the spray paint won't dry in cold weather).

A little Ralph love ~ paint on and wipe off! (Ralph Lauren Smoke Glaze)

Next, I used Gorilla Glue Epoxy to secure the wooden piece to the end of the table.

Now for her debut....

She fits just perfectly in her little corner spot!!!  Now that Christmas is over I can't wait to visit the thrift stores again!

For a listing of local thrift stores in your area visit Garage Sales Tracker!!!

Also...Don't forget about our next Link Party and Giveaway ~ 'I Made it Without My Hubby' on January 7!!!!  You can get our button on our sidebar!!!!!

~Ashley

New Twist on an Old Favorite

Hey guys!  I hope you all had an amazing Christmas!  My family did!  We finished up everything in town today and will head out tomorrow morning for our final Christmas with the hub's fam.  Since I will be out for a few days I thought I would sneak in a little project for you guys.  It's a simple one... just a little twist on an old one I did a few weeks back.

My mom loved the recipe holder I had made HERE and mentioned that she would love a black one to hold pictures... OK... Easy enough;)!  I kept things just about the same but changed just a bit.  I decided to make it wide instead of tall so I cut my 1x8 to 10" long.

I used my new birthday present to cut mine but a simple hand saw gets the job done quickly too!

I then cut my square dowel 8".  I glued my dowel to my round wood piece using Gorilla Glue Epoxy.  It is really important that you read the instructions and follow them:)... they are simple steps but the glue won't set well if you alter them.

After that dried I glued my 1x8 to my dowel using the GG Epoxy.

Here she is drying...

I then drilled a small hole for my wood finial and added some Gorilla Glue Wood Glue into the hole and screwed in my finial.

Now she's ready for a good coat of paint...

I sprayed the entire piece with Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch in Canyon Black Satin.  While that was drying I went and said good-bye to an old friend...

I plugged old trusty in to warm up and about 15 minutes later I heard a loud pop.  I went into the kitchen to find that the front end had cracked open and the glue gun was smoking... What does this mean???  I'm sick... I use it too much:) 

RIP Hot glue gun

So... I went and grabbed my back up and glued my roof flashing to the 1x8 before adding my decorative nails to the corner.  I added a favorite b&w that you guys have seen too many times and my gift was done!  Thanks to my Mom for the great idea:)  The final outcome...

Hope you like it... I think she did:) And it is super easy to change out your pictures.  If you need more specifics on the construction part just go see my recipe holder HERE.

Finally...

Thank you again for an AWESOME first 5 months.  It is hard not to be inspired when you have so many amazing people who encourage you each day.  You guys have been so good to us and we can't wait to see what 2010 holds.  Thank you so much.

And...

Happy Birthday Jesus!

~Whitney