DIY-ing it Up!

We are s-l-o-w-l-y decorating our house. We decided that we would focus on one room at a time, and I'm having a little decorating ADD. We started with the tables in the living room, one of which is complete and the other is apart, but still in our living room.

After our big trip to IKEA, we thought we would tackle the spare bedroom. I know it may sound strange to begin in a room that we are not in often, but we found these awesome shelves that I am dying to put up. The only problem is Sam says he won't put them up until we paint. So...I have put up paint samples, (by the way-I think those are the best things invented, because it is so hard to go by those paint squares) and we are still trying to decide on the one we like the best.

So my project tonight has nothing to do with the spare room or the living room. (I think I have blogging ADD too!) I really want an area that I can work on crafts in, i.e. sewing, scrapbooking, jewelry making, etc. Enter 3rd bedroom. I am so excited that we are able to have a guest bedroom and a spare room. Since we Sam isn't going to start another project, I thought I would do a quick DIY project on my own. So here it is: Super EASY and super CHEAP!

I started with an empty cashew can:

I tore of the label:

(I know-these tips are so great, you can't stand it!)

Then I used scrapbooking paper I had lying around and trimmed it to fit each can. I used mod podge to adhere the paper. Any kind of glue would work, but I like that flat look it gives underneath the paper, and the low-maintenance it provides. I rolled it around the can and glued the backside down.

On the bigger can, my 12x12 scrapbook paper, didn't quite wrap all the way around. I thought about leaving it, since I will face that side to the wall and only I would know (and the few of you that read this blog)...

...but Sam convinced me to fix it, and with the scraps I had left, I cleverly matched up some of the paper to cover the little spot.

So there it is! My little DIY project I completed in about 15 minutes. I know it's not fancy, high-tech or sophisticated, but I like it and I can't wait to fill it with craft goodies! (pens, scissors, glue, whatever floats my boat)

What We've Been Up To

I can't believe it has already been two months since we moved into our house. As people continue to ask us if we are "settled," the answer remains, "no." A friend of mine told me to put all of the boxes in the garage and bring them in as we need/want to in oder to unpack easier and not feel quite so overwhelmed. It was the best idea-it really helps me not to feel so much pressure every time I walk into my house, and keeps the house looking a little more neat and clean. It does make me wonder, however, if I actually need the things that are still in the garage. I have not needed much from those boxes, and I'm tempted to pack them up and take them to Goodwill without looking. Almost. I'm too much of a chicken though, and would probably regret it later. Plus some of the boxes have craft things that I do need, and don't want to buy again. I just haven't had time to make things since we have moved in.

We have been able to get a few things done and after a trip to IKEA (my new favorite store!) We have the decorating bug! We started with our coffee tables in the living room. They came from a friend of a friend (for FREE) and we were just going to spray paint them, but Sam got the idea to add some visual texture to them and wanted to add a branch. My husband is a very good artist. He tries to be humble and tell you he's not, but I tell you the truth folks-he is good to have around!

Here are some pictures to show the before and after of the table. Soon I will have a new picture of the living room as a whole, after we spray paint the end table.

Before

After

That is no sticker! Sam hand-painted that on there! I told you he is awesome!