Idea Board Clips

I love to look at pictures of the people I love while I work.  It makes the mundane job of paying bills more happy.

Although my Idea Board is for just that, ideas I've clipped, right now it is showing off some great pics of my fam.  I really don't like to push pins through my photos so I dreamed up a little project to solve this problem and still get my smiling faces on the board.

Walmart had little packs of tiny clothespins.  I knew they would be perfect for holding up a picture, however, they had no pins to adhere to the peg board, and they were a little plain jane.

No problem!  I gave the pins some love with a little craft paint.  I stuck with a navy, white, and mustard theme to compliment my office colors.

I painted each pin white first.  Then, I went back over with navy or yellow to make my rugby stripes.  No measuring here!  Just eyeball it.

Then, after the paint dried, I hot glued a thumb tack to the back of each pin.

Not only are my fav pictures on display, but the cute little pushpins add another layer of character and fun to this evolving room.

I love how it turned out!  Really simple, cheap, and very useful.  My favorite kind of project.

Grab a pack of pins and make a set!  I have another set serving a different purpose to share with you later...

XO,

 Sara

Office Idea Board

Have you ever started a project, only to have it lead you in an entirely different direction than you anticipated?

That's what happened to me when I set out to just cover Little's playroom peg board with some fabric.  A drop cloth and 200 thumb tacks later, and I have a new Idea Board for my Office!

Here's how it happened...

We were playing a rousing game of "Dinosaur Stomp" (Little's creation) when I just couldn't take the unsightly peg board anymore.  I mean really, a 3 year-old and push pins?  What was I thinking?!



So, I yanked it down and decided to cover it with some pretty fabric since his artwork will soon be moving to a new and awesome location (to be announced at a later time!).

I had a leftover Home Depot drop cloth from my curtain project, so I ironed it up...

and stapled that sucker on the bulletin board.

Well, that didn't look finished, so I whipped out a few boxes of thumb tacks I had lying around.

Wow!  It actually looked really good.  And way too grown up for a playroom. I could just see the pile of thumb tacks after Little was alone with it for 5 minutes... Hmmmm.....

So, the giant, weathered chalkboard that I LOVE (which I don't think I've shown you yet), was relocated to the playroom and the new and improved Idea Board found its home in my office.  I really feel like I'm in a Restoration Hardware catalogue when I sit at my desk.  So dreamy.  So modern, yet so traditional.  Perfectly me.

Not bad for an impromptu, no cost project, eh?

Tomorrow I'll share how I'm "pinning" up things to my new cute board.  Also, a really cheap and easy project.  I'm sensing a theme around here...

See you then!

XO,
  Sara

Blog Update and a New Project

Hi Guys!  I didn't forget about you yesterday.  I'm having major issues with the photo uploader on Blogger.  Is anyone else having a problem?

I select my pics and then the whole computer locks up and I have to shut it down and restart.  It makes getting a post written a wee bit difficult to say the least!

Bear with me.  Hopefully Blogger will fix it soon.  Did you hear that Blogger?  Fix it!

You already know I've been working on our master sitting room, doing some updates to the playroom, and making over our office/guest room, so why not add just one more project?  What happens is, I get to a stand still on a current redo and then start a new one...Hopefully I'm not the only one this happens to.

Our laundry room has always been tidy and neat, but it's been lacking in the style department.  I mean, it's a laundry room.  There's a reason it's been at the bottom of my list.

I wish I had a before, before to show you.  Imagine that the washer was pushed up against the dryer.  That's how it was.  Then, I realized that if I moved the washer over, I could fit an Ikea expedit in the space with oodles of storage.  THEN, I realized that I have these awesome cubbies that keep moving from space to space as we need them.  They fit perfectly!

However, the black was looking a little ominous, so I headed to Home Depot for a few (4) cans of Almond spray paint.  It matches the appliances perfectly!

As you can see, the cubbies are slightly raised from the floor.  This is due to the metal tray the washing machine sits in.  In order to balance it out, I put a few books under it near the dryer.  This is very high tech.  All the pros do it...

I don't have my after pics ready for you yet (because I can't get them loaded!!!), but here are a few teasers before the big reveal.

Can't wait to share the after with you!  I'm really loving the cheery space.  And anyone with children knows you spend a lot of time in the laundry room, so it better be cheery!

I haven't forgotten about my other unfinished projects.  I really have been busy!  This little comic sums up my decorating style to a T...

I'll have something to show for it soon!

XO,

 Sara

A Little Bit of In-spy-ration

Hi Friends!

 It's Friday.  Can I get a "Hallelujah!"?

So, I'm starting a new section on the blog of things I've spied around the design/cooking/fashion world.  Who knows what it will be each week, but it will be full of fun!  I'm calling it, "In-spy-ration".  Get it?

Today is a closet that I have been fantasizing about ever since I read the article in the latest edition of Traditional Home.  If you know me, you know I love some good reality tv.  Bethenny Frankle is one of my faves.  She keeps me laughing and has a great since of style.  And her closet...

I die.

via

Where do I begin?  The shoes?  The quatrefoil dressing table chair?  The chest of jewels? The octagonal mirror?

via

I'd be one happy girl in that closet.

I'm definitely feeling inspired to go clean my own space.  I've already rainbowed my clothes, but I just may be having to reorganize my shoes by color as well.  That means I'll have to get a few new colors, you know, to make the rainbow right...

Have a fab weekend!

XO,
  Sara

DIY - Washi Tape Lampshade

You know I love a good lamp makeover.  Last winter, I found a pair of eighties, brassy lamps that were begging for some love.  I made over one for my living room console table and planned to use the other one in  my office/guest room.

I used the same method for making over the office lamp, but I used a white shade.  Ever since I painted the walls white, it just wasn't working any more.

I knew I needed a little something to juge it up, and I spied just the thing during my last Michale's outing.  

                  

If you haven't used washi tape yet, I urge you to pick up a roll or two.  It can be used for anything from labeling files to lampshades!

I simply added a strip of tape along the top and bottom of the shade...

The process was simple and it took me about 2 minutes from start to finish.  At first, I was a little concerned the heat of the lamp would cause the tape to come off, but so far so good!

Here are some pics with the lamp off so you can see the colors better.

I have got to invest in a lens for close shots.  Or learn how to make it not hazy when I have the ISO up...:)

Not too bad for $2.99 and 2 minutes, eh?

Here's a quick B and A...

Have you used washi tape for anything yet?  

Have a super fab last day before FRIDAY!

XO,

  Sara

Sitting Room Update - Lamps

Well, we've been cruising along in our quest for a quiet little spot to read or catch up on tivo'd shows.  So far we've put in some "built-ins" and I've shared some finds for my new bookcases here and here.  But that's not all.  I've been a busy bee over here!

The long dresser in our bedroom turned out to be the perfect spot to hold the tv.  I just had Mister put in a new cable outlet for me, and we were in business!  Because you know you can't let the builders decide where your tv should live! Please.

As we started using our new little spot, the black iron lamps I had started to drive me crazy.  I couldn't focus on Burn Notice because I kept thinking about what would look better.  Now I couldn't let that keep happening, right?

So, I flipped through my newest Pottery Barn catalog, then headed off to Target to get the look for less.  You know you do it too.  And if you don't...I'm jealous. :)

Voila!  I knew something glass would be just the thing.  I already had the shades from the previous lamps, so it was a pretty easy switch.  I have great plans of filling them with ornaments come December.  Easter eggs in April!  Fireworks in July!  Too much?  Maybe I'll just keep them clear.

Things are starting to take shape.  I'm still in shock that we have actually brought my vision to life.  It's like having a whole new room in our house!  I urge you, if there's a section of your home that you aren't using, brainstorm other ways to use the space.  You're paying for it!

Maybe your dining room could be a study.  The guest room, a huge dressing room (I tried that one on Mister, it's a no go over here).  The sky's the limit!  Use it for you because that's who it's for.

And one more shot because I'm so in love with my lamps and my new room!

There's a little peek at how the bookshelves have been taking shape.  I'll share more on that later!

Have a splendid day, lovelies!

XO,
  Sara

Happy Birthday Mister

Ha ha ha ha!

Today is my Mister's 30th Birthday.  He reads my blog everyday (isn't he cute) so I had to give him a little shout out.

Dear Mister,

 Thanks for being my number one fan, putting up with my chronically chilly hands and feet, patiently playing mixed doubles with me, never agreeing with me when I complain about my hips/thighs/hair/insert anything, being the handyman for my home projects, and mowing the lawn (I tried, not my bag).

                                               

 Thanks for being the greatest Daddy ever, an awesome Netflix partner (even though you fall asleep during every movie we've ever watched ;), the guy who does the taxes, and my nightly ice cream scooper.

                                                          

 Thanks for putting up with my endless search to find where you are ticklish (everyone is somewhere!), dancing with me at wedding receptions when I know you'd rather be anywhere else, and reading Harry Potter aloud with me.  You've got a mean Professor Snape voice.

                                    


 You're such a great partner, but most of all, my best friend...even though Little told me that your his best friend...You're so popular!

                                           

 Now quit complaining. I'm older than you and it's not that bad. ;)

 I love you, T-III.

XO,
  Sara