because i like to decorate...

Baby Boy's Room - Planning & Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Mary - because i like to decorate) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 04:54:00 +0000

Better late than never! :) Now that the girls' room is almost complete, I can turn my attention to my precious baby boy's room. I've been gathering inspiration and I'm super excited to share my plans with you!

I knew as soon as I saw him, the sock monkey! His cozy fabric and textures mixed with the handsome color pallet, this was going to be my handsome boy's room theme. I'm not really a "theme" room type of person. To me, themes can easily go way overboard and you find yourself surrounded by toy trains, or bears, or mickey mouse. It's a fine line to carry a theme and keep the design flowing properly. Rule #1, just because its a sock monkey, doesn't mean it gets automatic clearance into the room.

Source: hostessblog.com via Mary - on Pinterest

The good news is I already have all the furniture pieces needed. When we purchased Gabby's crib set, we thankfully chose a gender-neutral design. Other than that, it's a blank slate. This is going to be fun! Check out the before pics -- this is how the room looks today:

Yes, I still need to take down Gabby's drapery panel. :) I'm thinking about keeping the brown wall colors and adding a wide stripe design using a red color. I found this stripped wall on Pinterest and just love the scale.

Source: honeyandfitz.blogspot.com via Amanda on Pinterest

I've just got three questions: #1. Horizontal or vertical? #2. Do I bring in white to brighten up the space? #3. What about stripes on the ceiling instead?

Turning my attention to the walls, I saw this graphic and originally wanted to use the idea for the girls' room. But thinking about it more, wouldn't this look spectacular as a pop out graphic above the crib? I would be painting either wooden or cardboard letters.

Source: signsbyandrea.com via Mary - on Pinterest

Also loving this print found on Etsy! Could I pull it off myself? Or maybe just purchase this one? It's fab!

Source: etsy.com via Mary - on Pinterest

Adding a rustic element would be nice. I'd like to create a version of this on three scrap plywood boards...but maybe more modern/pop art styling.

Source: etsy.com via Mary - on Pinterest

I don't think I would ever take the time to try and make my own sock monkey -- not my forte. But I still love the tutorial graphic as wall art!

Source: pureandnoble.blogspot.com via Mary - on Pinterest

Now onto fabric and textures. I want to pickup the warm coziness aspect of the sock monkey. This fabric is a must!

Source: thelittlefabricshop.com via Mary - on Pinterest

And how do you NOT love this blanket?!

Source: uncommongoods.com via Mary - on Pinterest

I really like the balance of this room. Very well done! The draperies are amazing and oh to get my hands on one of those little red bicycles!

Source: google.com via Mary - on Pinterest

And last but not least, the red shag rug is a must! :)

Source: google.com via Amber on Pinterest

I'm really excited to see how this is all going to come together! Stay tuned! :)

Lots of love,
Mary

The Girls' Room Progress 1.4 - Toddler Bookshelf Wall

noreply@blogger.com (Mary - because i like to decorate) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 05:13:00 +0000

Before I get to the goods, I wanted to share with you that baby boy Spitzer should arrive any day now!!! Lately, my days have been filled with last-minute Baby's R Us runs, putting the swing together, washing and putting away all his clothes, etc. Who knows, maybe my next post will be introducing our little guy. :)

When tackling the toddler bookshelf, I had a couple different options before me. I thought about constructing and painting the shelving myself -- the cheapest and most time-consuming option. Then I remembered a couple Pinterest options I had seen where IKEA spice racks or picture shelves were used for this purpose. So, I went to IKEA and really liked the picture frame shelving. And I REALLY liked the no-wood-cutting, no-painting, and no-assembly-required part!

On a normal day, I may have penny pinched and spent the time to try and make something myself. But since I'm 8+ months pregnant, $15 per shelf didn't seem like that big of an expense. And all I had to do was open the package, level the shelf, and screw it to the wall. Done!

The girls LOVE it! Adi keeps bringing me books and telling me that she found a new one that we didn't have before.

I love that the bookshelf doesn't take up valuable floor space, and it creates a nice visual for the wall. It's like artwork and storage in one! :)

I have just a few more elements to finish in the room before I show you the complete reveal. If you missed the design planning and inspiration for this room, It can be seen here.

Lots of love,
Mary

And the winner is...

noreply@blogger.com (Mary - because i like to decorate) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 23:00:00 +0000

Thank you to everyone who joined my first giveaway contest! I just can't wait to find out what the winner will choose for their custom artwork piece!

Source: society6.com via Nancy-Page on Pinterest

And the winner is... Comment #18: Kimberly who said, "I shared the giveaway on twitter."

Congrats Kimberly! I'll be contacting you by email to make arrangements.

Lots of love,
Mary

My First Giveaway! - Custom Rustic Wall Art

noreply@blogger.com (Mary - because i like to decorate) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:50:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

I can't believe it, but I just surpassed 500 followers in just under four months of having a blog! I thought it would be fun to host my very first giveaway to commemorate the occasion. :) What am I giving away, you ask? A custom painted 18"x24" rustic wall art piece with the lettering of your choice -- shipped or delivered to your home! Here you can see a couple examples of what can be done:

Rules:
The only rule is that you must be a follower of this blog to enter. Either by email subscription, RSS feed, or Google Friend Connect.

How to Enter:
There are five ways to enter! Enter all five and increase your chances!

Leave a comment below telling me what your favorite post of mine has been so far or what type of projects you would like to see more of.
Follow me on Facebook here and leave an additional comment below that you have done so.
Follow me on Twitter here and leave an additional comment below that you have done so.
Follow me on Pinterest here and leave an additional comment below that you have done so. (shoot me an email here if you need a Pinterest invite, I'd be happy to hook you up).
Tell your friends! You can either blog or Facebook or tweet with a link to this giveaway. Leave an additional comment below that you have done so.

This giveaway is open until midnight (Mountain Standard Time) on Friday evening, February 24th. The winner will be chosen from the comments below by Random.org and posted on Saturday, February 25th.

Lots of love,
Mary

Linked up here:

The Girls' Room Progress 1.3 - Monogrammed Headboards

noreply@blogger.com (Mary - because i like to decorate) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 06:13:00 +0000

Adi and Gabby's room is coming together, although slower than expected. I was able to get a HUGE part completed this past weekend -- the painting and setting up of their beds. To see the original inspiration and planning for this room, click here.

Introducing the headboards:

And here's a before shot:

The base was done with two coats of Annie Sloan Old White followed by AS Clear Wax. I then chose a simple damask image from a google search and printed it out onto basic copy paper in the desired size. And again for the monogram, I typed out my desired font and sizes, then printed onto copy paper.

I used a simple method that has been showcased here before. Using a ballpoint pen, firmly trace your image or letters onto the piece. You'll notice on the left side of the above photo, you can see where a faint visible line has been indented onto the furniture piece. This will allow you to paint inside the lines with a fine brush and achieve a close match to your printed image/font. Note: After painting the pink damask design, I brushed and buffed with a coat of wax before beginning the monogram letters.

I then sealed the design with another coat of clear wax and buffed smooth. I really enjoyed this project and I'm hoping that my girls will enjoy the design for many years to come!

Lots of love,
Mary

linked up here:

I Heart Books

noreply@blogger.com (Mary - because i like to decorate) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 05:21:00 +0000

Yesterday was one of those days where one thing led to another and I found myself at the Motor Vehicle Department for HOURS just to fix a clerical error not in my favor! Do you ever have those days? A test of patience for sure... probably good for me :)

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love. ~ Ephesians 4:1-2

Today I was able to finish up the wall art project that I hinted about. This was done as a special gift for a sweet young lady who attends our church, Dawson. I've been helping her and her mom plan out her new room design and there was a patch of wall space that needed some art. I asked if she would trust me to surprise her... and she said yes!

Dawson loves to read and really liked the idea of some rustic elements to her room to balance out the bright accent color choices. I had some extra wood panels in the garage and instantly knew what I wanted to do.

I stained the board with one coat of MinWax Jacobean and let it dry for 24 hours. I then mapped out the letters and heart by printing off my font of choice and tracing firmly onto the wood with a ballpoint pen. This allowed for a faint but visible outline to use as a guide.

I used a basic acrylic yellow paint from the craft store and painted one coat with a small brush. I could have done two coats, but liked the softer look of just one. It was finished with a coat of Annie Sloan Clear Wax and buffed smooth.

I hope you like it, Dawson!

Lots of love,
Mary

Feathering the Nest - Rooster Chairs!

noreply@blogger.com (Mary - because i like to decorate) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 06:54:00 +0000

I'm alive! I promise :) And getting back into the swing of things to post more often.

I was ecstatic to be given a project by a client who had found me via Craigslist for one of my furniture sale items. She needed her dining room chairs painted and it was a bit of a challenge. You see, each chair had a custom rooster mural on the backside that she wanted to preserve and paint the remaining portion of the chair. Because I just love to show you the "pretty pic" first, here's a peek at the finished product!

She's a bit of a DIY lady herself and will be doing her own upholstery. My client was happy, and that makes me happy! Plus, I just love how the chairs turned out. Here's a look at the chairs before:

We looked at colors together, and she decided on something in the white family to brighten up her space a bit. I totally agreed and we went with Annie Sloan Old White and decided to age it with AS Dark Wax which allowed for matching some of the white tones in the mural.

I started out with two coats of AS Old White, being careful to hand paint with a small fine brush around the mural. I then used a coat of AS Clear Wax to seal everything including the mural portion. Next, using a medium grade sanding block, I distressed portions of the chair that I thought would naturally happen over time. For example, the tops of the armrests and corners that stuck out got more distressing than other places.

The final step was using AS Dark Wax to really age the piece and pickup the color that the client was looking for. I've said it before, but this is my favorite part! When you brush on and buff the wax, it's amazing to see how much character comes out of the piece. Every piece of furniture is different and will bring out a different texture and result.

Thanks for hanging in there with me! I'll be back tomorrow with a simple wall art project that you are sure to LOVE as much as I do.

Lots of love,

Mary

A Salvation Army Find & A Little Humor

noreply@blogger.com (Mary - because i like to decorate) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:07:00 +0000

We went to the Salvation Army thrift store today to pickup a desk that I had previously purchased, and I stumbled upon a very ornate French-style coffee table and end table set for an excellent price.

Here's a sneak peak:

The wood is in really bad shape, but I can totally see this painted and heavily distressed to bring out the detail. It also has what appears to be a marble-style tabletop inlay! This project will be fun!

Now, onto the humor... So we surprised Adi with a dollhouse for her 4th birthday. I went to Hobby Lobby (with my coupon, of course) and purchased a really nice two-story house. When I got it home I started looking at the assembly instructions. Check out what I read under "Recommended Supplies":

Utility knife?? Fine toothed saw?!?! We immediately started laughing uncontrollably, then started to cry. :) What are we in for? I haven't opened the box yet -- mainly out of fear -- but Adi is really starting to get anxious. I'll keep you posted on our progress. The fun part is that we get to pick paint colors and completely customize the house!

Lots of love,
Mary

Patrick - Are you green with envy?

noreply@blogger.com (Mary - because i like to decorate) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:47:00 +0000

First, I'd like to say "thank you" for the all love and support shown to me this past week! Your prayers have meant the world to me. It touches my heart to know that some of you -- complete strangers even -- have been compelled to pray for me, and I am truly grateful.

I am so very excited to FINALLY get this piece up to show you. Introducing... "Patrick."

And here is what Patrick looked like before his makeover:

I used two coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Antibes Green followed by a coat of AS Clear Wax.

I then applied AS Dark Wax in specific areas to age the piece a bit.

I really like how the dark wax filled in the grooves on the top of the chest, bringing out the wear and tear. That's my favorite part! :)

I chose to replace the hardware with some antique brass pulls that I had saved from a previous project. They fit the piece just perfect and really pop next to the dark wax aging effect.

I was really excited to try out such a bold color choice and I have no regrets! Patrick is a beauty and in my opinion is the perfect mix of antique and modern.

~~I posted this piece on Craigslist here.~~
***Update: Patrick has now been SOLD***

Lots of love,
Mary

Linked up here:

I'm Not Sorry

noreply@blogger.com (Mary - because i like to decorate) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:49:00 +0000

I've been out of pocket this week. And while it sounds right to say that I am sorry, I am not. It's been one of those times when my God and my family come first in my life and all other things follow, including this blog. It has been a rough week to say the least. Please, if you are a christian, pray for my strength, wisdom, and peace during a very difficult time.

"Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken." Psalm 55:22

With that said, I do plan on getting back into the swing of things this week. I have some projects to finish up and I'm very anxious to show you. Thanks for your understanding.

Lots of love,
Mary

The Girls' Room Progress 1.2 - A Painted Nightstand

noreply@blogger.com (Mary - because i like to decorate) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 04:45:00 +0000

I'm finally back to painting some furniture! It's been nice to break out the paint brush this past weekend and I was actually able to nearly complete four pieces! One of which I'm super excited to show you today. :)

If your new to the blog, you should know that I'm six-and-a-half-months pregnant. And I'm starting to feel the pressure of the to-do list -- mainly finishing the girls' room so that I can start on baby Daniel's room. Well here's some progress for you. I present to you, the nightstand:

This piece didn't start out so "pretty." It was perfect, however, for the cowboy-themed room previously owned by our cousin Jadon (who has since been upgraded to a young man's room). So we've re-purposed the furniture and kept it in the family! This is what the nightstand looked like before:

You may know that I was the lucky winner of one of the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint giveaways as a promotion for her upcoming American tour. The giveaway was hosted by Kirsty over at Sanity and Chaos and stockist Randy from R. Lucas Scott Co. I chose Coco as one of the new colors to try out and it turned out to be the PERFECT color for this nightstand. It took just two coats of paint followed by a clear wax and then dark wax to age it a little bit.

I chose pink crystal knobs from Target (if you can believe it), which complements the Coco color well. Adilynne (our almost-four-year-old) was so excited when she saw the knobs -- just her style.

Now the fun part was deciding what to do to the top of the nightstand. I knew I wanted to do something different and when I ran across this pic online, it was perfect! I copied the design by freehand with a pencil first, then went over my pencil lines painting with a small art brush, followed by the wax to finish it off. If you don't trust yourself to freehand, a stencil would turn out nicely to place any sort of design on your table top.

Both of my girls just love birds! And I love how just a simple silhouette can be modernized with a bold, bright color.

I'll have the painting of the twin beds ready for you next week and I'm hoping to get some crown molding done soon! Again, if you missed the inspiration and planning post for this room, it can be seen here. Also, the paining of the polka dot walls can be seen here.

Lots of love,
Mary

Linking up here:

My Latest Craving - Banana Coconut Chocolate Chip Muffins

noreply@blogger.com (Mary - because i like to decorate) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 06:40:00 +0000

This may be the pregnancy talking, but I'm just in love with these muffins lately! (I'm eating one now as I type away). I love them so much that I thought it would be nice to share the recipe with all of you. :)

It was Christmas evening and we all gathered together as a family over dessert & coffee, etc. Our Auntie Beth, who happens to be an amazing cook, brought over these muffins and I was a goner! Just a couple days later, I went to the grocery store to get my supplies. I've been making a batch every week since.

I already had a good banana bread recipe, so I just added in the coconut shavings and chocolate chips. You also may want to add an extra banana to balance out the dryness of the coconut.

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 egg white
approx 5 medium bananas mashed
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
1 1/2 cup shaved coconut
1 1/2 cup chocolate chips

1. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside. (Flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, salt.)

2. Mix together mashed bananas, eggs plus egg white, sugar, butter, and vanilla extract.

3. Combine flour mixture all at once with banana mixture. Mix together and add the coconut and chocolate chips.

4. Fill muffin tins and bake at 350 degrees for approx. 20min.

5. Enjoy! :)

Lots of love,
Mary

The Girls' Room Progress 1.1 - Polka Dots!

noreply@blogger.com (Mary - because i like to decorate) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 01:15:00 +0000

The polka dots are done! If you missed my post detailing the master plan for this room, it can be seen here. The polka dots turned out to be a daunting task, but now that it's done I just LOVE the end result! The scale is just perfect and I'm really pleased with the color contrast between the brown and pink. Here's a look at the final paint job:

I didn't use a stencil. I just had a hard time justifying the expense for a simple circle. Thoughts of grade school and the protractor came flooding back to memory. So I gathered up my supplies.

A pencil, pushpin, and a string of some sort (I used this Christmas ribbon because it's what I had on hand). I measured out the approximate size that I wanted my polka dots and tied the ribbon accordingly.

The rest is simple, just as it looks. Hold the pin in place where you want your dot and trace your circle onto the wall with the pencil. You may need to circle the pencil mark around a couple times to ensure that everything matches up well. Also, it's important to tie the string as close to the tip of the pencil as possible so that you have more control over the pencil line. I wasn't able to capture a photo of just the pencil line circle, but here's a snapshot of a single complete circle:

The hardest part comes next. I wanted my polka dots to be symmetrical, so I needed to measure, measure, measure! This took so much time, but totally worth the end result. Once my circles were all mapped out, I broke out my pink paint and painted each dot with two coats. I used Behr in the color "silk ribbon."

Next, I'll be tackling crown molding and the painting of the beds and nightstand. To be continued...

Lots of love,
Mary

Linking up here:

Homemade Laundry Detergent - Pass or Fail?

noreply@blogger.com (Mary - because i like to decorate) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:48:00 +0000

Lately, I've been online a lot less and doing a lot more! (I sound like a Home Depot commercial). I haven't even been able to keep up with reading any of the blogs that I love, which is a bummer. There are so many projects in the works that are almost done and I just can't wait to show you! Including the first installment of the girls' bedroom progress. Yay! :)

One of the things I tried this past week was homemade laundry detergent. A friend of mine told me about this recipe a few months back. I started running low on the Gain that I had been using, so I decided that there is no time like the present to give it a try.

Source: etsy.com via Lisa on Pinterest

The recipe I started with was from the Duggar Family found here. (I love them!)

Ingredient List:

4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
½ Cup Borax

I had trouble locating the Super Washing Soda locally and I'm too impatient to order online and wait. So I searched and googled for alternatives and found that baking soda is in the same family as washing soda, only with a lower PH. I read in several places that you can change the PH of baking soda and essentially turn it into washing soda by heating it above the boiling point. I also read that OxiClean has both Borax and washing soda in it. So here's what I did to alter the recipe and make it work for what I had on hand:

I boiled a saucepan of water and added 1 cup of baking soda. Warning: use a large pot with a lot of extra room when boiling the water. When you add the baking soda it will foam up before settling and if you don't allow room, this could happen! :/

On the plus side, after scrubbing off the baking soda and soap from my stove-top, it's never looked cleaner! :)

I then added this mixture to the large gallon mixture which contained all the other ingredients. I also added 1 cup of OxiClean to the overall large mixture.

I followed the rest of the recipe instructions exactly as listed. It required me to let it sit overnight (a test for my impatience), so I gave it a try the next day.

Verdict: FAIL for my recipe alteration, and undetermined on the real recipe.

Lesson learned: sometimes it's not worth it to try and find a shortcut. It didn't gel like it was supposed to, and when I washed the puppy's bed, it didn't come out smelling fresh enough for my standards. I haven't given up, however! I'll be trying out the true unaltered recipe using the super washing soda and will let you know of my results. (Crossing my fingers.)

Lots of love,
Mary

DIY Gold Leaf Chalkboard

noreply@blogger.com (Mary - because i like to decorate) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 04:14:00 +0000

I was planning on posting this last night, but to my surprise, my husband put aside his "man card" for the evening and watched the movie The Help with me. :)

Now onto the main event! Have you heard of the famous Miss Mustard Seed Gold Leaf Chalkboard? I was so excited to try this one out since I've been coveting the one in her staging photos for quite some time now. I learned that she had a step-by-step tutorial over at HGTV (here), so when I found the MOST AMAZING frame at a garage sale for only $5, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it! Here is my final product:

This is one of those times when I wish I had a before pic of the frame. Two of the corners were completely missing... thus the $5 price tag. I used some molding clay to first form a mold out of one of the good corners. After that dried, I used my new corner mold to create the two missing corners. Here's a close-up of the molding that I had to recreate (you can't even tell!):

I followed Miss Mustard Seed's tutorial to a "T." The only exception was when it came to painting the chalkboard center, I had no primer. Was I going to take the time to drag out my two toddlers and make the big trip to the hardware store just for primer? Nope. Was I going to wait until the next day? Nope. What to do? I saw the gold leaf adhesive spray on my counter and just went for it. And it worked! So mental note: if you don't have any spray primer on hand you can substitute gold leaf adhesive spray. :)

Lots of love,
Mary

Breaking News!

noreply@blogger.com (Mary - because i like to decorate) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 04:17:00 +0000

What is it you ask? MY HOUSE IS CLEAN! Yes, that's right. We had a professional cleaner come in the other day to clean the house and prepare for expected company, which forced me to pick up and organize a bit. Which brings me to my New Year's resolution: to keep it that way! My goal is to spend 15 minutes every morning, noon, and evening walking around the house to just pick up things and put them back in their place. It may seem like a simple task to most of you, but this has been hard for us to do. And with the children getting older, it doesn't get easier. I need to train myself to be a better housekeeper.

Source: realsimple.com via Claire on Pinterest

I normally don't make New Year's resolutions, because as my pastor said this last Sunday morning, "We should be resolved to be more holy every day of the year." This statement doesn't necessarily mean that we shouldn't be making New Year's resolutions, but rather it puts those resolutions into perspective. My primary duty and joy is to be a wife and a mother, which includes being the keeper of my home. Let me be resolved to be more diligent in this area every day of the year and not just around New Year's Day.

So now that I've aired out all my dirty laundry, I must know... am I alone? Or do you struggle with the same thing?

Lots of love,

Mary

DIY Rustic Headboard Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Mary - because i like to decorate) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 04:49:00 +0000

Due to the overwhelming response from my Mini Bedroom Makeover, and the wealth of questions regarding the making of the headboard, I thought it was best to write a specific post detailing how it was made and the challenges that I encountered in the process.

Step one was purchasing my wood. I chose pre-cut 6' boards from Home Depot (we have a king size bed). These are what the boards looked like once I got them home from the hardware store.

(Sorry about the photo quality -- this was a cell phone pic.) Please note: when choosing your boards, the "prettier" boards in my opinion (second board from the right) bow more than the others -- although I think it's totally worth it! :) I positioned the boards in the order that I wanted them to look on the wall, then I marked the back of each board by number order. I also put an arrow pointing in the upward direction so that I would remember the placement when I went to install the headboard.

Next was the wood staining process. I moved the boards to the garage since fumes with wood stain are extremely strong. I chose Minwax in the color Jacobean and brushed the stain on in the direction of the wood grain using a cheap throwaway sponge brush. Then after each large section, I wiped with a dry rag. I just LOVE how the stain made the wood grain pop! Ideally, I would've left them in the garage for 24 hours to dry and then add a wax finish, but because of my time constraint I rushed to install them as soon as the stain was dry to the touch. I later applied the wax finish after the install and big reveal.

On each end of each board, I drilled two equally spaced holes where I wanted my drywall screws to go. I didn't bother finding studs since the boards weren't that heavy to begin with. I've hung heavier pictures on the wall using drywall screws, so I wasn't worried in the least. I measured, then positioned and leveled the bottom board first and screwed it into the wall. It's important to note that on my first try I didn't use long enough drywall screws. This required an additional trip to the hardware store, but what project doesn't? :) At the end of the day, 2" screws worked well for me. If you look closely, you may be able to tell that a couple of the boards still stick out a little bit from the wall. I'm okay with that and actually like it when these type of things aren't "perfect." That's what makes it unique and a little more rustic rather than a perfect, manufactured look.

I'm extremely happy with the results and would do it again in a heartbeat! It really is easier than it looks. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to send me an email here or leave a comment below.

Lots of love,
Mary

Linked up here:

Goodwill Find, A Vintage Folding Chair

noreply@blogger.com (Mary - because i like to decorate) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 07:40:00 +0000

Happy New Year! I've had such a wonderful time over the last few days just enjoying time with my family. We took the kids to the zoo today! It was a beautiful 81 degrees here in Arizona, but I'm not bragging. :)

I found this little beauty a couple months back for only $5 at one of my local Goodwill spots.

I fell in love with the straight lines and the muted wood tone. The best part? It's also a folding chair!

I recovered the seat cushion with a piece of scrap fabric that I had on hand.

The fabric seemed to fit the piece well -- a kind of vintage-modern feel.

Nothing was done to the wood frame. It was just perfect as-is!

I find that you can never have too many chairs around the house. This one moves from room to room as needed. So glad I found it!

In other news, I've had so many questions about the headboard done as a part of my Mini Bedroom Makeover, that I will be posting a more detailed tutorial tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Lots of love,
Mary

Showing Off @ The DIY Showoff

noreply@blogger.com (Mary - because i like to decorate) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 06:32:00 +0000

I'm honored and humbled to have my Mini Bedroom Makeover featured today by Roeshel over at The DIY Showoff! I received an email from her earlier this week, but was holding out until today to tell you all. :) It's a little scary to see your bedroom plastered all over the internet and on Pinterest, but kinda cool at the same time. I'm so new to the blogging world that it's all still a little bit surreal!

Roeshel and her husband are remodeling their old farmhouse and blogging about their journey of DIY projects. She's built up quite a following over the last two-and-a-half years, which is not surprising considering her and her husband's work.

You can view my featured post here, and please stay awhile to check out some of the projects that she's completed in her beautiful farmhouse!

Lots of love,
Mary

The pantry... a work in progress

noreply@blogger.com (Mary - because i like to decorate) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 07:20:00 +0000

I did a little organizing today. I'm stepping out on a limb here and showing you my pantry. It's not the most organized or the most beautiful, but I think it represents more of the "reality" rather than the dream pantry we've all seen on Pinterest, etc. Maybe I'll get there one day.

Here she is after a little organization today.

For several months now I've been collecting baskets from thrift stores and wherever else I can find them on clearance. The idea is to better categorize items in my pantry for easier access and for a cleaner look.

Do you remember the nameplates I used for our Thanksgiving table this year?

They've been re-purposed as labels for my pantry baskets. With a little hot glue, each basket now has a label that can be rewritten at any time since they're mini chalkboards! Not bad for about 25 cents a piece.

I still have more work to do, but at least it's a start. :)

Lots of love,
Mary

Christmas Update and some AMAZING news!

noreply@blogger.com (Mary - because i like to decorate) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 05:05:00 +0000

Lately, I've been a busy bee with Christmas and all! No projects because Christmas was my project. And the last couple days have been catch-up and relaxing and enjoying my family. I don't know about you, but by Sunday evening I was EXHAUSTED -- in a good way! Despite the little sleep and nonstop action, it was all worth it to see my family enjoy the Christmas festivities. The big day was on a Sunday this year, which made it extra special. I can't think of a better way to celebrate the birth of Christ.

A few highlights,

Our tree wasn't the most beautiful this year, but has got to top the list as my favorite...for a few reasons. First, we found out that the tree was angled/bent at the bottom AFTER we got it home and in the stand. Because of this, it isn't that sturdy and is impossible to position straight. I managed to lightly string a couple strands of lights around it and we sat back and watched our little ones place the ornaments wherever they wanted. It was so much fun! As you can see, most of the ornaments are in a cluster not higher than three feet from the bottom, but I didn't care. :) This one was for the kids!

In other news, I haven't been able to find the baby Jesus to our nativity set for the past three weeks! I searched and searched and had pretty much given up. Then on Christmas morning, as Adi was opening her stocking, she screamed, "mommy, mommy, I found baby Jesus!" To my surprise -- stuffed at the bottom of her stocking -- there he was. I must have checked the stockings like 20 times. I think it was fitting, He was "born on Christmas day."

Merry Christmas! Our BIG present to the girls this year was a brand-new puppy! Isn't he a cutie pie? His name is Tebow and he is a nine-week-old Miniature Beagle. The whole family is just in love with him! This is our first family dog so I am knee-deep in potty training materials. Any and all advice you have is much appreciated! I would love to have both Tebow and Gabby, our two-year-old, potty trained by time baby Daniel arrives in March! I'm going to be busy! :)

And now for the AMAZING news! I received an email this morning from Cassity at Remodelaholic who told me how much she loved my Mini Bedroom Makeover and that she was going to feature it on her and her husband's site today! Ahhhhhhhh! That's me screaming in excitement! Her family is such an inspiration! Be sure to check out their blog for a wealth of DIY knowledge. I could rummage through their archives and never run out of inspiration to glean from. You can see my featured post here!

Lots of love,
Mary

Surprise! A Mini Bedroom Makeover

noreply@blogger.com (Mary - because i like to decorate) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 03:12:00 +0000

I told you I had something up my sleeve! It all started when my husband had to go on a two-day business trip to Dallas. After he left on Tuesday morning, I got to thinking... what if I could pull off a mini master bedroom makeover before he returned on Wednesday evening? You see, our master bedroom has been neglected big time! Because nobody goes up there, it's received no attention whatsoever. I wanted my husband and I to have a nice place to retreat to at the end of the day.

Let me preface this by saying that it was a "mini" makeover. I had less than 24 hours and two children to care for at the same time! I have many, many more plans for this space, so look for "master bedroom makeover 2.0" in the future. :) Without further ado... introducing the final product:

And for comparison, this is what our master bedroom looked like before.

Does this look at all familiar? Since moving in, we just placed our furniture in the room and walked away. Have you done the same thing? Notice how the cords are stretching to plug in all our "necessities." And one of our lamps were moved to the guest room to accommodate out-of-town company. Tacky, I know... it's embarrassing.

First things first, we needed an actual bed frame -- or in the very least, a headboard. Since upgrading to a king-size bed, our pretty queen-size Z Gallerie bed that we had been using moved to the guest room. I've seen DIY headboards all over the internet, so that's what I set out to do. Fortunately, Home Depot stocks 6' long pre-cut boards for about $5.50 a piece. I used six boards, stained them, and screwed them to the wall using a course drywall screw.

We also needed some lighting changes, so I picked up these nightstand lights as well as the ceiling fan and called a very generous friend to come install them last-minute for me.

I brought in Hayden - the antique cedar chest to frame the foot of the bed, and also picked up a few nightstand accessories...

...including this super-cool motorcycle statue that I couldn't resist for my husband's side of the bed.

To keep it practical, I used books that my husband actually reads topped with a couple vintage, old-looking books.

And finally, I purchased this rug to frame out the space and add a little texture and dimension.

Now that this much is done, I want to do more! (Oh the lack of time and resources). Until next time...

**Update: I have recently posted a tutorial specifically dedicated to the headboard portion of this project. Click here to view.**

Lots of love,
Mary

Linked up here:

DIY Rustic Christmas Star

noreply@blogger.com (Mary - because i like to decorate) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:27:00 +0000

Let me just say... I'm so tired! Between the Christmas rush and the fact that our house has been hit with a cold, which brought on the discovery of my precious little 4 year old's battle with Asthma (or Restrictive Airway Disease)... poor baby, I'm exhausted! Needless to say, I haven't been doing anything crafty and have nothing new to show you. I'm re-posting my DIY Rustic Christmas Star tutorial just in-case you missed my guest post over at TypeA last week. I do however have a few surprises up my sleeve and will be sure to share all the details and pics with you in a couple days.

...........................................................

This project is one that I did last year after seeing one at my local Pottery Barn. I'm not sure if they sold the stars or if it was just a part of the store decor for Christmas, but as soon as I saw it I said to myself, "I can do that!"

It's quite simple, really -- just how it looks. Off I went to Michael's and purchased a couple bundles of their pre-packaged sticks. Note: make it a point to get the straightest ones possible. Curvy sticks are hard to tie together and it will be harder to achieve the straight lines you need for your star.

Make five even piles of the straightest sticks possible. Just use your judgement to determine how many sticks per pile. Those piles will become the five lines to your star. Lay them out as you see they look and fit best together. I used a standard twine that I had on hand, but any sort of twine-like string will work just fine.

Wrap the twine around each point of the star as tightly as possible. Then, tie a double-knot around the back of the star and secure with a dab of hot glue. Repeat this process until your star is complete.

I found it was easiest to tie down the star points first before securing the middle sections. Once your glue is dry, you may add any other decorative finish that you desire. I chose simple white lights and I have to say -- this is one of my favorite decorative pieces to pull out each year.

The best part is that this is an indoor/outdoor project. What about a front door wreath alternative? Hung above your outdoor nativity set? Or maybe three different sized stars hung above a window?

Lots of love,
Mary

Linked up here:

Bennett - A restored mid-century modern office desk

noreply@blogger.com (Mary - because i like to decorate) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 02:42:00 +0000

Drumroll please... introducing "Bennett."

Remember a week or so ago, I picked this little guy up at Goodwill? Let me remind you...

Yes, Goodwill is a bit messy!

I used a homemade chalk paint recipe out of Behr Midnight Dream. Like I said before, I have plans to complete a more thorough chalk paint comparison in the future. I'll keep you posted. I don't really have enough info for a thorough analysis yet.

After two coats of the blue, I distressed, applied Annie Sloan clear wax, then taped off the white stripes. I used Behr Off White for the stripes.

After distressing and waxing again, I added the AS dark wax to age it up a bit. That's when the piece really popped!

I kept the original brass hardware and just polished it up a bit.

I'm really happy with the results. Perfect for a boy's room or even a bachelor pad! He looks rich and sophisticated.

Bennett has already found a home. He was sold before I had a chance to place the ad. And the best part is that he is staying in the family, so I can visit him anytime I want!

Lots of love,

Mary

I'm linked up here:

I LOVE wreaths.

noreply@blogger.com (Mary - because i like to decorate) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:59:00 +0000

Just in case you didn't know, I LOVE wreaths! As I was perusing Pinterest this evening for ideas, I found myself pinning like a million wreaths. My plan was to just search for 2-3 ideas to make something simple, and then I just couldn't stop. :)

Check this one out!

Source: marthastewart.com via Mary - on Pinterest

You may be thinking, what does this have to do with Christmas? But I can see it! Just add a red bow and some purple berries... and there you have it. A non-traditional Christmas wreath.

This next one is really really amazing!

Source: vintagemellie.blogspot.com via Mary - on Pinterest

All I need now is a power saw. :)

Don't get me wrong, I am a sucker for the traditional as well! Just give me garland, white lights, and red bows and I am done.

Source: hollymathisinteriors.com via Mary - on Pinterest

I am really into the traditional ole boxwood wreaths and want to make one or buy one pronto... correction, not one but like ten! So classic.

Okay, so here's one for Arizona!

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Mary - on Pinterest

I can picture a simple red bow on the bottom right "corner". I think this may be my front door choice (that is if I have time to try and make it or if I see one for sale in my area).

Just one more, I promise!

Source: littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com via Mary - on Pinterest

I really do want to try and make this one. At first glance I thought it was red felt, but look a little closer. It's red burlap!

Check out my Pinterest Christmas board here to see the rest of the wreaths that caught my eye today. There are so many amazing ideas that I could be making wreaths all year and stay busy.

Please note: All images were pulled from Pinterest and when clicking on the photo (in most cases) you will be taken to their original source.

Lots of love,
Mary