More of what I've been spending my precious preschool/nap/neglect-the-laundry hours doing:

A few weeks ago, I decided to revamp an old painting that no longer worked in my home.

I took a quick snapshot of the before. Some of you may have seen this one. When I painted it, I never really considered it "done." It didn't really float my boat. So I decided to re-tackle it. Out of all the projects I've decided to give a whirl, painting is probably my one true love. {SIGH.} It was truly a relaxing take-on.

Which leads me to...photos of part of my kitchen. I decided to do a bit of an impromptu art gallery by revamping a few other paintings as well, to coordinate all the colors.

Remember this post? I decided to take a different route with the decorative paper, and ordered some of this delectable Italian Butterfly stock. LOVE it. Jamin helped me make a gallery frame, from wood and plexiglass. A simple way to switch out peices of art, and freshen up as I fancy.

On the other side, I have a giant bulletin board, made from natural cork. I stole adapted this idea from Domino years ago, but its a great and CHEAP way to display and switch out family photos. AmCork is a great source for naturally patterned cork. If you do ever install this, I recommend foregoing the adhesive that they offer on their site, unless you mount the undercork it to a piece of wood first. Otherwise, hammer in directly to the wall.

This is probably my fave corner of the house. The only problem is, parting with my old photos.

Which leads me to...Thumb tacks. What goes better with a family bulletin board than homemade fabric covered thumb tacks? This is a nice little afternoon project, that will leave you with plenty of "happies" for your desk, home, or wherever...as an end product. Not to mention...who wouldn't love this as a gift? I smell Christmas presents.

What you will need: 

Fabric coverable button kits (You can find these in any craft/fabric section/store) in various sizes. I love to mix them up a little...

Shank remover (usually found in the same location)

Flat thumbtacks

Fabric

Glue gun

Scissors

(I didn't take photos of this -I was too lazy...but the process is pretty basic)

Open all your packages of coverable buttons, and on the backs, remove the shanks with your shank remover. (this is the loopy thing on the back, that when attached to the button will make for a smooth back to attach your tack) That's the hard part.

This is the most laborious of the process, and your hands may be sore, depending on how many you make. I think you may get shankless coverable buttons online, if you're super lazy resourceful.

Follow the directions on the back of the button cover. Cutting your fabric to size (according to the circle on the back) place your fabric on the inside of the plastic thingy. Place the button top inside after the fabric, then folding your fabric under, place your shankless back, and then the blue plastic piece, on top. Push it down until you hear a light snap, and viola! Remove your fabric covered button. You are supa cool.

Taking your hot glue gun, attach the tacks to the buttons.

Give yourself a big pat on the back for figuring it out, and display your cute lil fabric goodness proudly. You are a domesticated diva.

Just an idea: I took some more old fabric, and a ceiling tile from Home Depot. I covered the ceiling tile with fabric, securing it with hot glue and a staple gun. Mini bulletin + fabric covered thumbtacks = fun gifts!

So, my main fall project, was to tackle our hallway bathroom, and make it more kid friendly with a design appeal. It's narrow, windowless, and when we purchased our home, said bathroom was already painted a dark brown. Fun color, but big mistake for a windowless room. Our dining room just so happens to be the same color (Benjamin Moore Grandfather Clock) and I love it. Its a big deal for me to keep the chocolate brown since I'm such a light girl. But not for the bathroom. Ew. Bad design choice.

side note: I'm not sure what Em is doing in that pic. Probably trying to flush a toy...

For me, that arch had such potential. But this bathroom had fallen by the wayside since I've been redoing rooms ever since we moved in. In the three years we've been in our home, we've added two children. That's one big boy room and two nurseries. So I think you get the pic here. Anything else in our home=neglect. (that's why it was such a big deal for me to spiff up our bedding) The final straw came for me when I decided to wash our PB shower curtain, due to an unfortunate nose bleed incident, and it shrunk two inches. And then I realized the shower curtain was dry clean only.

REALLY, Pottery Barn? Straw. Camel. Back. Time for a redo.

This is me keeping it real. Clorox wipes = an absolute must for four year old boys aiming at the toilet. It was definitely time for a new bow organizing solution. {Those framed pieces in the mirror became a bow organizer, and the prints went to our bedroom.}

Here's my after:

 I decided to do a floor to ceiling shower curtain in strips of Heather Ross' Mendocino.I simply hemmed and attached all the sides and then made a rod pocket at the top.

After making the shower curtain, I decided we really needed to lighten up the walls. So I went for a two toned blue, lighter on the side you can currently see, and one shade darker on the other side of the arch.

I made a thick, three photo frame and repeated the pattern in paint, found in the Mendocino fabric.

Very Morroccan tile. Very bathroom (aka Mills house) since my kids like to be naked.

I also took some peices of scrap wood and cabinet trim, and after I (read Jamin) drilled the holes to make a place to hang their towels, I painted my children's initials over each one. Now they have a little spot for bathrobes, etc. The knobs are, of course, Anthro. Orange and aqua really brought out the color in the walls and fabric. That, and who doesn't love a little complimentary color scheme?

This shelf was in the garage sale pile. But wasn't purchased. Their loss. After taking a second look, I decided I could use it, and after upcycling an old star frame by a good repaint, placed a photo of Malone and surrounded it with stars and shells. Viola. Oh, and this is also Amy Butler's new towel collection at Bed Bath and Beyond. I thought it was a really fun match.

I spray painted my lamp, and a few other frames, to continue with the airy colors and aquatics feel.

What a world of a difference a little paint and elbow grease can make! The kids love their new fun bathroom.

I nabbed this wreath with their floral half off sale at Hobby Lobby last week. Yes, I went to Hobby Lobby with an arsenal of a list. (Hardware...wreath...tulle...check x 3) And scored this one for like two dollars (I think?) I spray painted some pinecones I had lying around my house (yes, I actually had pinecones lying around my house-my parents live in Wetumpka and have some giant pines in their yard so I happened to scoop some up last fall...) and attached them with the glue gun.

The funny part is, this entire wreath was made with things already lying around the hizzy. These flowers were formally seen in Emmy's hair. The M was a foam M (also found at Hobby Lobby) it was originally yellow, and I spray painted it, before wrapping it securely with lime green yarn. {I wanted mine to have a spot of color.} I also like the smaller letters...

I did this project last summer and then decided I had no use for them. So I garnished my wreath to make it extra cozy and tie in the green... Attached it all with an orange ribbon and viola! My cozy fall wreath.

Kinda reminds me of a nest...hanging on a door...

Now go make your own! Happy (fall) crafting.

*I'm trying something different with this site...every time I have a new post, I'm switching up the order of the pages so people will know it's there...that, and you can now easily access projects by clicking on links to the left. The whole four posts at a time thing was killer. This way I'm more flexible. I hope this makes everything a little easier! Maybe let me know???

a work in progress...is our bedroom. ALWAYS. I wish I could have shown this puppy to you five years ago, because even though the before pics here look like I've made progress...five years ago would have shown you a dog hair covered cheapo duvet with the bedroom furniture all matchy matchy that I grew up with and a hand me down king mattress. I'm not complaining. But it's nice to have something nice in your own bedroom. To me, its romantic. And I have spent the last five years of our marriage doing children's rooms. So, naturally, our bedroom has taken a bit of a hit on the budget/design factor.

Forgive me for the bad picture quality here. I snapped these hurriedly the other day, as I wrestled Emmy off the bed just in time for her to climb back up again...But I think you get the gist. (anything without natural lighting drives me crazy, but this was just the time of day I took it in.) I invested in this bedding from nautica and the pillows just weren't working for me. Shlumpadinka. So I wanted to {cheaply} do a little upgrade. Our bedroom is an odd shape, so we moved the bed in front of the windows to make room for our armoire and giant chair. {I love having a little reading nook} We have no headboard, so the windows stand as such for now. I plan on making my own someday soon, along with canopies that look like this: {linen + copper pipes mounted from the ceiling=ooh lala.} our ceilings in this house are odd so I will be waiting patiently for the day to arrive SEVEN years from now in our new bedroom when I can make my own!

Image: Domino book of Decorating. {I remember when this image debuted in the mag, and I LURVED it.}

So my point: this is what I've been working on recently. Come back one year from now, and I will (hopefullyl) gradually added other pieces. {think handmade beadboard base and a fun old dresser I want to refinish in a super dark color for uber contrast...}

I painted the dresser for Emmy's big girl room which will be making its debut early next year. I couldn't stand the green and never was happy with it. So until I find our perfect dresser, hers shall be sitting, repainted and hardwareless in our room. If you remember my DIY painting tutorial where I discussed hardware: I need to make an ammendment. I'm such a dork. We've been had. I proclaimed anthro as all so fabo with their hardware. I don't know how I missed it, but Hobby Lobby carries the exact same stuff. What does HL have that A does not? Half off hardware sales, people. So you shall find me non to chalantly STALKING HL until they proclaim their sale yet again. I patiently wait for the day...and I'm thinking melon GREEN knobs.

Still before. Hoping to give you a 360 view...

This is what I've been working on like a madwoman for the past few weeks. Emmy's dresser will be complete with hardware and glass top/fabric cover.

Again, sorry for the quality. I basically did three euro pillows and had them monogrammed by my dear friend Abbie. {these pics are for you!} and tied in the color by doing a generous linen throw at the base of the bed. I love the feeling of having an extra layer, and at the same time, think it really simplifies.The fabric is 100% linen which I scored for a FRACTION of the price at fabric.com along with a 30% coupon at retailmenot.com. {Thanks for that resource, Jillina.}

Remember my eight dollar finds at the flea market? Along with my kirklands vomit tables?

Not too shabby for eight dollars, eh? I got lucky. See that fraction of a large canvas on the right? How's this for a wonderful idea: I scored this off a blog who scored it from another blog...but this woman purchased giant canvases and allowed her children to have at it with their art supplies. I have this large canvas I've never been happy with and plan on letting the kids have a blast with it as soon as Malone is old enough to partake as well. What a fun way to have not so distinguished art displayed hugely in your house-by your all time favorite artists!

I shopped my house and found a few accessories and some sophistocated wall decor. These were previously hanging in my bathroom. Something I acquired for a few bucks at a garage sale around five years ago. Piranesi prints. {Art History, anyone?} I knew I loved them but hated the frames, so with Jamin's oh so wonderful help, I built some new and even finished them off with balsa wood edges for a matted effect. More. For less.

Again, mad props to Abbie. I couldn't have finished these without her {and our bartering system!-I owe you!} This was a simple update. I plan to keep adding pieces over time, to give it a unique, gradually collected look rather than the sometimes overwhelming matchy approach. {I was kind of proud of my mad sewing skillz...since I paid a fraction of the price, Jamin no longer has to resist the urge to STRANGLE ME.}

Coming soon: bathroom redeux. Thanks for reading...hope you feel inspired to get in there with a little elbow grease!

I love mendocino in aqua by Heather Bailey. What am I doing with this? using it for inspiration in my children's bathroom, and sewing a ceiling to floor paneled shower curtain, of course!

DIY stuff on this coming soon...