Laundry Closet Organization

So for anyone who knows me I am a bit of an organized freak. My dream home will have a huge laundry/mudroom....but for now I live in an apartment where the laundry is in the kitchen closet. So I have to make due!

I hate having things just strewn about in plastic bags or piled high boxes so I decided to do the best I could with what I've got and make my laundry closet cute!

They are so easy and cheap to do!

Baskets - $12 - Home Goods - Set of 4
Wooden Plaques - $3.99 for a set of 6 - Hobby Lobby
Double Sided Scrapbook paper - $.99 - Hobby Lobby
Velcro squares - a whole roll is approximately $3
ModPodge
ModPodge 3d

Cut the paper to the size of the wooden plaques you bought. Smear some modpodge on the wooden plaque and place the paper firmly smoothing down edges. I guess you could use elmer's glue as well, but I like the smoothness of using ModPodge. Once in place, I simply wrote what I wanted in sharpie. Create a spiral around the wooden Plaque with 3d ModPodge, spreading evenly with a thin paint brush. Let Dry.

I used velcro so that I could mix and re-use baskets without harming them. You are all done and your laundry closet is organized now!

Old windows turned Art

Yet again, I can't afford a nice painting, especially the size I wanted. The wall behind my couch is fairly large and completely plain. I love the vintage look of windows as art, so I went on a mission to find two matching ones. Let me tell you, finding two matching size windows at a yard sale or antique store is harder than it seems. But I finally managed to find them at a huge antique store right in the city!

After a little southern charm flirting, I managed to get them a lot cheaper than they asked. They were asking 40 for both, so I immediatly wanted to walk. But I had finally found two of the same size!!! After bargaining, which I hate to do, for a good 20 minutes I managed to walk away with both for 20. Still a splurge for me, but they were just too perfect!

They were plain white which I didn't particularly care for but wanted to keep the antique look of them. So instead of sanding them down, I went ahead and just painted over the white with some paint I had. Using a bristle brush, it doesn't fully get into the grooves/cracks of original windows, exactly what I wanted. I sanded down the edges a bit to keep the look. Once dry, simply hang on a picture hook.

I am thinking about transferring some photographs I have taken onto several panes. Still can't decide which photos though.....

1970's tv stand...revamped!

So i needed a side table for my sleeper chair in my office. I kept feeling bad that guests staying over had nowhere to put phones, drinks, etc.....but I had no money to go find a side table to matter how cute or discounted.

Well it just so happened that my boyfriend was throwing out an old dinged up plain wood tv stand. My initial reaction..."what are you crazy? I'll take it!"

1. Satin white spray paint - already had from previous project
2. Stencil - I found one from Martha Stewart that I liked. I took a picture of it at Home Depot, printed the picture, traced it onto a sheet of plexi-glass and cut it out. Total $3 instead of $14.
3. Silver paint - I knew I only needed a little so I bought a 'sample size' from Home depot, $1.
4. Dish sponge - I wanted the antique look.

Start spray painting! It took me about 2 coats, a full can of spray paint to ensure an even coating and no splotching. Once dry, I placed the stencils in the corners holding them in place with painters tape. Sponge on the silver paint and then carefully peel up the stencil to move to the next corner. All in all it took me about 30 minutes, and I have a new table for guests.

It may not be perfect but it certainly does the trick. The wicker baskets are from ikea, in case you wanted to know.

Spa like Artwork for the bedroom!

Paintings are expensive. I had a huge plain wall that needed a little something extra in the bedroom. I decided fabric would be a gorgeous alternative to add a little extra warmth to the bedroom.

1. Fabric- I found mine at Hancock Fabrics. It was a bit pricier there so I did my research online and found the exact same fabric for a discounted price, because they were scraps. With the canvases I used, I only needed several yards, which was only $4.27 a yard!!
2. Canvases - $2 each from a yard sale. Hobby lobby does carry these sizes for approximately $9, if a yard sale isn't in your immediate future
3. Staple Gun and/or Hot glue gun

It's so easy to do. Simply flip the canvas over, and strech the fabric around the edges. Staple each corner to ensure a smooth front, then staple approximately 1 in. apart all the way around the canvas. If a staple gun is not in your possession, my friend used hot glue to seal the fabric to the canvas.

Pound a nail in the wall and hang. No hardware needed since the canvas has an edge!

DIY Dog Bed

I have gone through about 6 dog beds...and let me tell you they are not cheap! I started off with 2 for my bulldog, which immediatly got chewed. His crate then resorted to old towels bunched together to make it softer because I couldn't afford one more. Once the next puppy came along, I made the mistake of buying yet another dog bed, this time from Home goods, but still not that cheap. 2 days later....destroyed. I started thinking about how I could make them my own so I don't keep wasting money.

1. Fleece - $3.95 a yard, 2.25 yards - Hancock Fabrics
2. Pillows (2 small or 1 large) - $2-3 dollars - Dollar Store or Thrift Store
3. Scissors
4. Learn to tie a knot

It's that easy and cheap! Cut the fabric into two squares of identical size to fit the pillow allowing 4-6 inches of extra fabric on each side. Cut 1-3 inches of strips surrounding the entire pillow. Tie the bottom strip to the top strip with a knot. Repeat process all the way around and you have a dog bed that is less than $15.

Needless to say this has been the second one I have made but the second puppy is now almost 1 and done with his chewing phase!

The start of it all

For those of you living on a budget, like me, this blog may come in handy. I love photography, crafts, and design but can't always afford the Potterybarn magazine page, or the Martha Stewart crafts. So I have made it my business to achieve the look for less and make due with what I have. I'll be posting cheap crafts to organize, decorate and design. Recipes and desserts I love that are easy and effortless. And the once in a while photographs, that I love to take.