New/Old Mirror

I've heard a saying, "If you want to get shiz done, throw a party." (I might be paraphrasing here.) Anyway, it's true. Last week was a whirlwind here at Casa de Lively: finding a First Communion dress at the last second, cleaning like a madwoman, and getting ready for a post Communion shindig. But it did force me to complete a couple of languishing projects, which was a win.

The biggest project was an old frame that our friend Anne-Marie had given me. Unfortunately, the only "before" shot is 

one with the frame in the background. But it can double as a "gratuitous cute baby" photo:

You can't really see the dental detailing but it's pretty.
And also, look at that little thumb-sucker! So cute!

Anne-Marie said to paint over the white and gold because it looked trashy... at the same moment I said it was pretty. (Hint: I'm the one bringing the class to this friendship.) A-M counseled me to repeat the grey that I used for the backs of my bookshelves and hang it vertically over my couch. Genius! I got glass cut to fit the frame and did a quick DIY antiqued mirror look which I regret slightly. Not because it's not a cool look, but the execution was poor and now I'm going to have to redo it. 

But it did the trick in a pinch and filled the vast vacuum of space over our sofa:

That crooked lampshade makes me INSANE.

We'll see how long I can live with it before I freak out, scrape off all the paint, and redo the darn thing. 

Probably quite a while: complacency sets in pretty quick around here. 

Happy Weekend, Friends!

-Alissa

Heads Up!

We are thinking of cobbling together a headboard for our bed. I attempted this a few years ago, as a first anniversary gift to Micky, to lackluster results (above). Well, he said HE liked it. Basically I bought a square of unfinished wooden lattice from Home Depot that I had them cut down to size. Then I painstakingly sanded and painted every crevice of the thing a high gloss white. It was nice to look at, but very wobbly and a little bit short for the bed. And all of those crevices collected dust like WHAT.

Our new bedroom doesn't have a ton of options for furniture layout, so the head of the bed is unfortunately pressed slightly off center up against a window. I thought hanging curtains wide over the window to frame the bed would work, but come morning time, our pillows and nighttime tossing have pushed them up and pulled them taut. So really, a headboard of some sort is in order. 

But they are surprisingly expensive---even just the headboard, without the side- and footboard action. And since it's going to be in front of a window, we'd like it to be high enough to provide some bedtime reading support, but not so high that it blocks all of the natural light. So I've been looking for a DIY option online and I may have found a few decent contenders. What do you guys think? 

I like the look of these wide boards, but she's got it mounted to the wall. I'd rather attach it directly to bed frame for more stability.  

(DIY $25 Rustic Headboard via www.radicalpossibility.com)

This one screws into the bed frame, but isn't quite aesthetically what I'm looking for. Also, too tall.

(DIY Headboard for Under $40 via www.echoesoflaughter.ca)

This is one that I'd LOVE to have---no more Graham grabbing my glasses and swiping books off the nightside table! But it seems a bit too complicated for a novice woodworker. Plus, I can't find the original source. (So this one will have to do for now.)

I'll update you guys when we decide!  

- Cathleen 

Done: Window Shelves

We did it! All of my window shelving dreams have come true!

I don't think it warrants sharing detailed DIY instructions---we just went to Home Depot, picked out the right size tracks and corresponding shelves, brackets, and screw kit, then installed everything with a power drill---but I'm pretty proud of how they turned out. 

I convinced Micky that the window shelves could be our Valentine's Day gift to each other, but I'm the one who really wanted them. And he very kindly let me loose in the plant department to pick out some greenery. Including this bad boy: a Venus Flytrap!!! I have ALWAYS wanted one of these! 

Now to just keep them all alive. 

- Cathleen 

Nice in Theory?

So, I'm in the market for a mobile for over my daughter's bed and I came across this one. It seems right up my alley 

because it is aesthetically simple, inexpensive, and not too complicated to make. 

via Design Mom

I love the symmetry of the hanging threads and cascade of the little clay diamonds but I keep thinking a couple of tweeks here and there could make it a little more special. I was definitely planning on using a metallic brass-y spray paint instead of the craft paint. And maybe pretty embroidery thread as the stringing material or a more delicate way of attaching the threads to the hoop? 

I'm not sure if I'm trying too hard to make this project work. I have a tendency to keep pressing on when I should just let things go.

Any thoughts? Should I forge ahead or jump ship and try something else? I need to make a decision because I've designated this weekend as my DIY weekend. My esposo is out of town so I need to get some projects done before he gets home and we resume our usual routine of getting NOTHING accomplished. So, seriously, hand over your two cents.

And then have an excellent Crafty Weekend.

-Alissa

Industrial Pipe DIY

So, speaking of projects, I did FINALLY finish my painting my bookshelves and I’ve been walking around in a glow of self-congratulations. And since I still have about thirty-five projects left that I’d like to tackle, I’m hoping to keep that momentum going.

I recently took down the horrible curtains that were hanging in our living room- sheer white drapes with white embroidered flowers *ugh*- which have been there since we moved in almost a year ago. (It takes me a LONG time to get moving on projects.) Since I took them down, we’ve been living in a fishbowl because I haven’t found suitable replacements. Until... 

West Elm Industrial Pipe Curtain Rods

... I found these curtain rods, which I LOVE! I was going to go ahead and bite the bullet on them (I’ll need three for my living room) but I wasn’t quite ready to cough up the $200+ for curtain rods. 

Looking around for other sources, I found tons of instructions for making them myself. I assumed that they would look pretty homemade, but all the tutorials are easy and the final result looks great.

All the pieces I need!

Spray painted copper

Hammered Metal spray paint

So, now my weekend plans are laid out for me: cleaning and spray painting iron pipe fittings into curtain rods! Wish me luck because I’m definitely putting all my eggs in one basket here. 

Good luck to you and any and all DIYs that you’ve got on the horizon. Or just relaxation if that’s your plan!

Happy Weekend, Friends!

-Alissa

Artwork of the Week: Shrunken Heads!

Vincent Price's Shrunken Head Apple Sculpture Kit by Milton Bradley 1975

Yes, you know that if it's endorsed by the pretty mug of Vincent Price, this shrunken head kit MUST have been amazing! Milton Bradley put these out in the 70s, five years before my time, but I discovered this vintage set while searching for Halloween-y things to post this week. There are a few available on Ebay and one from LovesAllThingsYou on Etsy, so pick one up if you're looking for the perfect finishing touch to your mad-voodoo-science-lab party. You never know, you may just have an artiste's touch when it comes to sculpting disfigured shrunken heads. [Or you could just try the old-fashioned method.]

Included in the kit: 

1. The Shrinker

2. Face Templates

3. Plastic Sculpting Tool

4. Synthetic Hair (white and orange)

5. Little White Beads (teeth)

6. Large Black Beeds (eyes)

7. Watercolor

8. Jar of Gloss Finish

9. 3 Pieces of Aluminum Wire 

10. Cord

11. Instructions

12. Apple Hanger

13. Wing-nuts and various pieces for hanging the apple and attaching it to a lamp

Happy Halloween!!

- Cathleen 

(last photo via drgangrene)

Mobilizing

Circular Bunny Mobile 

$33.50 from AllModern

Puffy Cloud Mobile DIY by Petit Poulou 

found via Apartment Therapy

Paper Airplane Mobile 

from Sugar and Spice Studios on Etsy

Geometric Themis Mobile

$27 from A+R

Libra Origami Sphere Mobile 

$48 from The Starcraft on Etsy

Which one is your favorite?

- Cathleen 

DIY: Bug Mugs

Continuing the theme of painting and tea this week, I bring you a short tutorial on painted bug mugs! I received a lovely pair of black and white flowered mugs for Christmas and thought it might be fun to jazz them up a bit. Naturally I thought, "Put a bug on it!"And so I did. The feisty praying mantis and the destructive Japanese beetle were my inspiration, but you could paint just about anything on just about any ceramic object you've got lying around the house that will fit inside an oven. 


What you'll need: 

• A ceramic mug!  (Or plate! Or bowl! Or cat figurine!)

• Porcelaine 150 Paint by Pebeo!  (I used Peacock Blue & Tourmaline Red!) 
• A paintbrush! (I used a round #2 watercolor brush!) 
• A cup of water!  (For cleaning your brushes between paint applications!)
• A wet paper towel!  (For wiping up any mistakes!)
• An oven!  (For baking your newly painted mug when all is set and done!)

Once you've painted your bug, or bird, or funky geometric shape upon your mug, clean your brushes well with soap and water, and allow the mug to dry for 24 hours before popping it into a 300 degree oven for 35 minutes. After it's out of the oven and cool to the touch, your mug will be ready to hold the hot beverage of your choice! And best of all! It's dishwasher safe! 

I really liked how this little guy turned out. 

Oh! I also added some colorful dots to the inside of the flowers 

by dipping the butt-end of my paintbrush in the paint and dabbing it wherever I fancied. 

Other helpful tips: 
• You can purchase Porcelaine 150 Paint by Pebeo at any craft or art supply store (they also make some great paints for glassware). 
• Before you bake and set your design, the paint can be wiped right off the surface of the ceramic leaving no trace behind. If you make a mistake, no one has to know! 


So fun the ceramics in my house better watch their backs or they might get painted on. Boom!


- Cathleen