YouTique

Style the Walls Without Breaking the Bank!

2012-10-20T12:04:00.003-07:00

Wall art can really help tie a room together, but it can also be extremely expensive. In this tutorial I am going to teach you how to make a picture wall for under $15. In my previous post I told you about redoing my kitchen and the custom border I had made, well that was not the only area that I had to get creative. I absolutely adore Paula Deen, and the idea of having a Paula Deen inspired breakfast nook just seemed to suit, however as many of you know many of the kiosks at photo centers will not print copy written pictures (and for good reason), and many at home printers do not render the most clear pictures. So instead I simply used an outdated Paula Deen calender. Calender pictures are large in size and have a very clear resolution, plus outdated calendars on Ebay are generally around $3. For the frames I used a very simple black 8x10 frame I found at Walmart for $1.50 a piece. If simple is not your style you can easily glam up your frames or you can also mix and match frames you found at thrift stores.

Here are the steps I took achieving the look

I began by unstapling the calender and separating the calender at the folds, I then had 12 pictures to choose from. I only needed 8 to accomplish the look I desired.
After deciding which pictures I would used. I took the glass out of one of the picture frames and positioned it on each print and used it as a view window. Whatever is showing in the glass will be what is showing when framed, so be sure not to include the little hole at the top that you would use to hang the calendar. Once you get the glass angled to your liking you simply trace around the glass with a pen.
Cut along the marks you made, I used scissors, but if you are an exacto knife champion be my guest.
Frame the cut out in a frame and viola.

I hope you found this helpful! If you try it be sure to send pictures, I'd love to see everyone else's ideas!

Create a Custom Wallborder For Cheap!!

2012-10-20T00:43:00.002-07:00

I am a picky person by nature, so when it comes to my home decor they have to really impress me and be unique (I run a blog named YouTique after all). When I moved into my home the kitchen was large and bright, however the walls had a floral detailed paneling and a sea foam green chair rail, mix the two elements together and the kitchen looked so small! I dealt with the kitchen until all the other rooms were somewhat completed and then came the room I knew I would be compelled to make perfect... The kitchen is the heart of the home after all. Regardless of how difficult I knew it would be, I set out on a journey to redo my kitchen. After much deliberation I decided to paint the walls a cream color, and do black and copper accents.. Not exactly decor that you could easy pick up at Walmart, but as I said I am picky and want what I want. As I began the project I had so much optimism, the wall painting with multiple coats was complete in 2 days, I found wonderful pictures to hang, found counter accessories and then... I hit a wall. I could not for the life of me find a border that matched my color scheme, budget, or the size of the chair rail. Three weeks I searched online,went store to store and after dead end after dead end, I had finally reached my limit. I decided to forget the border and paint the chair rail the same color as the rest of the wall, as much as I didn't want to. Defeated, I went to Lowe's to get paint when the clouds opened and the angels sang (building anticipation), I saw a paintable wallpaper, and everything clicked. I could cut the paper down to the size I needed for the rail, paint it the color I wanted, and for the fraction of the cost of a 15 feet roll of border. I am all about bargains after all!

Step By Step Instructions After The Jump

Here are the steps I took to achieve my look:

(You can substitute paints to suit your style)

I measured the chair rail and marked the wallpaper, and cut it with an exacto knife.
I then hung the border following the directions on the package.
After letting the border dry for the time specified on the package (In my case I let it dry all day.) I begun painting the border black. Be sure to get into every nook and cranny of the border to ensure the next step goes correctly.
After the black dried I lightly sponge rolled a copper acrylic paint over the top, being careful not to press too hard. You want the paint to rest on the embossed area to create the effect of a pressed metal.

Another angle to show the copper finish a bit more.

I bought a 30 foot roll for 10 dollars, used a $5 can of black paint, and a $2 bottle of copper acrylic paint. $17 dollars for the materials and about 3 hours total of actual labor, not including the drying time for the paint. I still have a lot of the paintable wallpaper and have been brain storming ideas so I can use it again! Its a super easy product to use and it is really versatile. I hope this helps anyone looking for a cheap way to make a big impression!

Do you have any go to products that you love? Let me know!

Be sure to follow on Twitter @YouTique Official

Follow YouTique On Twitter!!

2012-10-18T23:27:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to announce YouTique is now on Twitter!

Become a Tiquer today!!

Follow at http://twitter.com/YouTiqueBlog

Check Out The Craft Blog Directory!

2012-10-17T14:45:00.001-07:00

There is a new Craft Blog Directory that is currently being formed and for anyone who wants to join. Its an honor to be able to be associated with a community with similar interests and getting to connect with them. I look forward to getting to know some new readers and cannot wait to hear everyone's ideas!! Go join the directory now by clicking the image below!

The Barn Phootshoot

2012-03-14T20:41:00.000-07:00

Hey Everybody!!! Wow I cannot believe its been 9 days since my last post. I am currently scolding myself! But on a good note today I got to go out and about again and take some new pictures. The theme for today was Barns, and Oh lordy do I have some big treats for y'all. Christy and I went to 3 different locations to get pictures of some the most beautiful barns in Missouri (In my opinion). Some of the barns we just happened upon and some had great stories behind them, no matter the circumstance they made for gorgeous photos. I hope y'all enjoy!!

We came across this barn while driving down a gravel road. It was one of my favorites.

More Pictures After the Jump!!

This barn is on a farm of Christy's family.

Christy spotted this one off the road.

This picture makes the barn seem small but in reality it is anything but.

The rotten siding really made this one stand out for me.

This barn is also on Christy's family's land. It was by far the most fun barn of them all because we got to actually get close to it.

This is another angle of the barn. The worn boards made this picture so perfect.

This corner stone says P.J. Henry & Son.. I tried to find to research the name but found no results. Either way it was a wonderful find for the day.

"Like" Youtique on Facebook!!

2012-03-05T01:09:00.000-08:00

Hey everybody! Just recently I made a Facebook page so that everyone can keep up with new posts on the blog as well as contests and giveaways!

Go to http://www.facebook.com/YouTique and click Like!

At 50 likes there will be a little giveaway and who knows it could be you! So go share the page and lets start having some fun!

Kick Up Your Feet... For Cheap!

2012-03-05T00:56:00.000-08:00

You have to love Lazy Sundays! I may have to work in the morning on Sundays but that means my entire evening is open to watch movies, get take out Chinese food, and hang out with my pooch Roxy.... but for me I can only be lazy so long before I have to get up and do something. Earlier in the week I posted about an ottoman I found at a junk store here in town. The ottoman has a great build and is very stable, the only issues with it was a few minor scuffs on the legs and a very ugly fabric on the cushion. I bought the ottoman for $5.50 and did not want to invest anymore than $15 into it.

Step By Step How to... After the Jump!


This is the ottoman before I started to do anything with it. You can see the legs and wooden base is pretty banged up.

First I unscrewed the cushion from the base so I could begin reupholstering the seat. The fabric I chose to use I picked up at Walmart out of the scrap material bin for 99 cents.

NOTE: I'm not showing you a picture of unscrewing screws, frankly if you don't know how, you are already in over your head.

Be sure when you are putting new fabric on that you are not using a fabric that can easily be snagged. This material has a suede leathery texture to it.

After getting the cushion redone, I wiped the base down with Old English floor polish. A little dab will go a long way and as you can see it really toned down the scratches and scuffs as well as polished off some of the dirt and dust. I personally did not want to paint the piece, and actually thought the scuffs gave it some character.

Once I let the base dry for about ten minutes I reattached the cushion. Easy as that.

Lets go over how much this ottoman cost me to redo...

Ottoman - $5.50
Fabric for seat - $1.10 with tax
A few drops of Old English - Roughly $.50

Total Cost: $7.10!!!

Redoing furniture does not have to be a lengthy or costly project. This entire project took about an hour and a half and cost under 8 bucks.

Treasure or Trash?: Youtique's Guidelines for a Pick

2012-03-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

When I go picking for items, especially furniture, I usually do my "preliminary test".

Look the item over. If its feasible, pick up the item and look from the bottom to the top. Look for flaws that cannot be patched or fixed with stain or paint. In my experience wooden chairs with splits in the seats are bad news.
Check its stability. Just to clarify right off the bat, I do not mean try standing on it. Junk shop or not, the terms "You break it, You buy it." still apply. What I do for furniture is find a level piece of ground and give it a little rock, listen to the piece.. Chances are if it pops and cracks, its not going to be worth it to fix it up.
Look beyond the cosmetics. When I pick a piece I try not to pay as much attention to its paint job rather than its structure. Just about anything can be painted and if the structure is good then you are more than likely in for a beautiful piece.
Will this be fun or require extra funds? I am always up for a challenge but know your means and the importance of your project. You may find something you think would look gorgeous fixed up, but you must also take into consideration the money you will have to invest to accomplish the look you are seeing in your mind. I myself have been guilty of lusting over a item that would just turn into a money pit. I think having vision is a wonderful thing, but I like to be able to see my vision come true.
Is this project out of my capabilities? Sometimes money isn't the issue when it comes to knowing your means on a project. It is important to take into consideration the hours of work and the difficulty involved in some projects. So before you pay for something that is going to be more than you can chew, estimate how long it will take you to redo the piece. Otherwise you will have a million half done projects, and the name for that is "Hoarder".

I know everyone has their own routine, and I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas on picking!

Country Snap Shots: Deuxième Partie

2012-03-04T22:21:00.001-08:00

Just finished some more photos from the shoot on Tuesday, these took awhile to finish up, because I was having trouble accomplishing the effect I wanted for them and I've had trouble finding the time. Better late than never I suppose!!

I only wish I had gotten a picture of the geese that were in the pond a few minutes earlier.

More photos after the jump!!

As much as I liked the other edit of this, I felt it was too dark and I wanted to really bring out the sign more. The reedit I believe captured the scene much better.

Country Snap Shots

2012-02-29T18:20:00.000-08:00

I got the opportunity to get out and take some photos in the country today, I am in love with them! The weather has been unpredictable all day and REALLY windy!! However you'll see from my photos that the cloud cover proved to be an amazing back drop, it only took a little contrasting and brightening to get these pictures looking beautiful. The best challenge of the entire shoot was not getting blown over by the wind!

The picture above I took at a train crossing in Laclede, Missouri.

More photos after the jump!!

This picture was taken at my friend Christy's farm.

This picture was taken at my friend Christy's farm. I tried two different edits and could not decide which I liked better!

A Recipe for a Rainy Day

2012-02-29T00:35:00.000-08:00

Well today I intended on working on some projects, that was until the rain started... I have no idea what Mother Nature has against me being productive, but nevertheless my early morning picking was a success. I brought home a small bench and a suitcase that I will be making into a entryway table (I'll be posting my progress of both). Before I came home however, I had to stop at this amazing little Amish store outside of town for some ingredients to make cinnamon rolls and a delicious deli sandwich. I absolutely adore fresh ingredients and love to buy as much of my groceries locally as I can (Sounded like a Duggar...). I am one of those people that absolutely love to make a new recipe and force feed the people around me.

In my opinion there is absolutely nothing I like better to do on a rainy day than bake, I get this from my mother. When I was growing up rainy days meant pie... Not just pie but PIES... Apple, cherry, and peach... I remember vividly getting out of bed, walking into the dining room which by that time my mom had transformed into her own bakery, and she would have flour all over our dining table, the floor, and of course herself. I LOVED THAT... I loved the fact that when she cooked she got into it, it wasn't about making a pretty little pie, it was about making a damn good pie. Sometimes when you are so content on making something good you have to overlook the little spills here and there and focus on the task at had. I credit that memory to so much of what helped me become who I am.

It may not make sense to other people, especially to people that didn't grow up with a mother like mine or a fresh homemade pie, but life is a lot like baking. I don't like to be preachy but I suppose a little bit of my wacky wisdom cannot hurt....In my mind, baking such is life is messy, and fun, and sometimes stressful. It all depends on how closely you read the recipe and see what roll each item plays into its outcome. Every bodies recipe is going to include happiness, sadness, anger, disappointment, frustration, anxiety, the list goes on, but if you just take a moment and measure each one of them out before just throwing them into the mixing bowl of your life you'll be surprised with how good your result is.

My day started with one objective, and it changed like things often do. The fact is I did not sit on the couch and sulk, I just changed up the recipe and made the outcome of my day something sweet..

What a Hoot!

2012-02-23T03:19:00.000-08:00

Had an amazing day of projects lined up, unfortunately due to rain I was only able to complete one. Took myself out on a little treasure finding mission today and found a vintage owl wall decoration for $1. Just recently my friend, Christy, acquired a little obsession with them, and I knew that with a little time and paint that it would be a great piece for her bedroom. She also has the greatest reactions to gifts, usually a little screaming and laughing, which made this little fella well worth the time it took to repaint him. Granted I am not an amazing painter, but I think the owl turned out pretty cute!


Before


After

Update: Thought I would take a minute to let everyone know that Mr. Owl found a great place in Christy's bedroom right above her bed and the reaction was dead on to what I had expected. This is why I absolutely love giving my friends gifts, no matter the price or the size, they appreciate the little things that they know without a doubt was a gift intended for them.

Here is her comment on my facebook page:

Christy - Since I cannot comment on your blog (for reasons unknown) I will here...Thanks so much for the YOUnigue gift! OWL treasure it forever and always. :)

Hahaha she is always a jokester and that is why she, like this owl, is one of a kind.