DIY Tutorials // Make Your Chalk Paint

When I stumbled across this tutorial, I literally shouted JACKPOT at the top of my lungs. Brillance, is what it is. Don't get me I LOVE Annie Sloan's chalkpaint, but it's very hard to get your hands on, and while there are a great many colors, you are always going to be limited to what they carry. Now, you can make ANY color chalk paint your heart desires (and of course, at a fraction of the cost). 

All I did was mosey on over to Home Depot, grabbed Martha Stewart's paint sample of Main Lobster, and asked the mixer for a flat sample of the paint. It's a nice sized sample for about $5, and then I grabbed a 2.5 lb bag of Plaster of Paris for about $6. I went home, poured about 2/3 of the paint sample into a plastic container, then shook about 1/3 cup of the Plaster of Paris into the container and mixed thoroughly. What I ended up with was a lovely thick paint that was very similar to the chalk paint consistency. I got to work on the chair, but the mixture did start to thicken up with time, and the heat (I was painting outside) so I added a few drops of water (be careful not to add to much! a water little goes a long way), remixed and it was perfect and silky!

My chair was sitting outside for a while so not in great condition. It has paint flaking off of it, so I lightly sanded the thing to get most of the flakes off, then painted right over it. What I ended up with was a antiquey handpainted look- not the gorgeous smooth professional look my husband produces on furniture, but the change in style was fun & refreshing! I topped it with clear wax, and am now debating on glazing over the piece and distressing it a little before recovering the cushion seat with burlap. I'll be sure to share the finished pictures once I decide!

DIY Tutorials // Independence Day Holiday Decorating with Rhonna Designs

One of our lovely sponsors of hello there house! home & garden event 2011, Rhonna Designs, has just launched an amazing new digital line, Nautical Chic which is perfect for printing out and decorating your homes & summer soirees coming up for next month. Check out her blog feature on her new line:


Rhonna DESIGNS: intRoducing>>>Nautical Chic!: I'm totally giddy to share my new collection: Nautical Chic! It's up on my site NOW! The art is vintage & modern mixed....

She was even featured on Utah tv showcasing her new line, check THAT out and & see all the fab things she created for the feature, with mini little tutorials about how to make some of her easy decor:

Rhonna DESIGNS: Nautical Chic Papers & Printables on Fresh Living ...: http://www.kutv.com/news/features/fresh-living/home-improvement/stories/vid_32.shtml Did you see the fun Nautical Chic projects on...

Here are my favorite printables from the kit, things that are easy to print, cut & CREATE!

Source: rhonnadesigns.com via Rosemary on Pinterest

Source: rhonnadesigns.com via Rosemary on Pinterest

Source: rhonnadesigns.com via Rosemary on Pinterest

Source: rhonnadesigns.com via Rosemary on Pinterest

D.I.Y. Tutorials // Giant Cross Stitch

I have not been this excited about a project in quite a while! It all began when I saw this from JD Decker:

This whole concept blows my mind and if I am being honest, I am a little disappointed that I didn't think of this idea on my own. Cross stitching with yarn onto fabric on a ginormous scale. Love it.

My wheels have been turning ever since.

I have this huge ocean print on canvas that I got second hand for a steal. My husband hates it. I could love it if I could afford to surround it with the perfect environment. It just looks like junk on our walls as they are right now. So it has been living behind (yes, behind) our couch for months.

My mother used to own an antique cross stitch. It hung beneath the fireplace mantle. I loved it. Those antique crossed stitches go for about $200.00, so I found a replicating pattern years ago and I was going to make my own, but then I realized maybe it was a little too out dated for what I want in my home.

Fast forward to now. Giant canvas + burlap + traditional cross stitch pattern + modern colored yarn + large scale = traditional art with a modern twist and a hint of sentimental value.

Here is a step by step of what I did. Warning: the pattern I chose is pretty involved. If you are new at cross stitching pick something simple or make your own pattern on graph paper. That is the beauty of this project: simple patterns are stunning made large. I chose burlap because it already has little holes and because my pattern is pretty time consuming as it is. Burlap is an easier fabric to work with and it does come in different colors too. You can choose any fabric (I really thought a floral would be amazing!). Here is a great tutorial if you are not going to use burlap.

Materials:

• canvas 
• burlap (add 5" to length and height of canvas and this is how big your burlap needs to be)
• cross stitch pattern (you can make your own on graph paper too!)
• yarn (I like the thought of modern colors to bring a traditional craft to the modern age)
• large needle
• staple gun
• a calculator (most likely)

ONE // Before you buy a canvas, first you want to do the math. Please do not let this part scare you. I have tried to make it easy for those who are math challenged. Once you get past this part it is so much fun! Promise? Ok. Decide how large you want each cross stitch to be. One by one inch is great. Here is a formula to guide you in choosing a good canvas size:

Size of cross stitch  x  number of stitches high on pattern (count the x's from the lowest to the highest)  =  canvas height

Size of cross stitch  x  number of stitches across on pattern (count the x's from the furthest left to the furthest right)  =  canvas length

Now you have your minimum dimensions for your canvas. Keep in mind that if you want a lot of empty fabric space to border the actual pattern add some inches to your canvas size.

If you already have a canvas and a pattern (like me) and you need to know how large to make your stitches to ensure it will fit then use this formula:

Canvas height  /  number of stitches high on pattern  =  size of cross stitch ( keep in mind that this is your maximum---if your number comes out to 2.5" you can definitely take it down to 1" and the pattern will fit on your canvas. This number tells you the largest your stitch can be while making sure the pattern fits on the canvas).

Canvas length  /  number of stitches across on pattern  =  size of cross stitch

You will most likely get two different numbers for your size of cross stitch. A cross stitch need to be square so you will need to settle on a number that works for both height and length. Just make sure you settle on a number that is not larger than the smaller number of the two (example: you came out with .5 and 1--your stitches will need to be .5" because .5 was your height maximum).

THE MATH IS DONE (mostly)!! (can you tell I am a slight math nerd? yeah. Remember when you were in school and were like, "when am I ever going to need this?". Answer: when you decide to make a giant cross stitch). Now onto the fun stuff!

TWO // Cut your burlap to the right size. Take the dimensions of your canvas and add 5" to each side (as in 4 sides) and that is the size your burlap should be.

THREE // Map out your pattern. Find the center of the burlap and the center of the pattern and start there. Work one way and then the other. Try to follow the grain in the burlap as best as you can but there may be areas where you will need to go with your eye to keep those x's straight. Make sure you measure your stitches for consistency. Here is a basic cross stitching guide to help if you are a beginner. And don't forget to tie knots whenever you begin or end a strand of yarn (on the back!) to prevent your work from undoing itself.

FOUR // Once your pattern is complete, center it on the canvas, turn it all over and staple the excess fabric to the back. Make sure your corners are nice a neat!

DIY Tutorials // Painting with Chalk Paint

I've painted and waxed my second piece of furniture with Annie Sloan's chalk paint, and let me tell you- I'm completely smitten with it. It went on so smooth, and the wax was simple as pie to apply. My little accent cabinet looks fantastic in the Graphite with the clear wax and those fabulous "glass" knobs from Hobby Lobby.

I followed Miss Mustard's Seed's tutorial on how to apply the wax, she does a great job explaining the different types of waxes and what they do.





She has done a ton of lovely projects with the chalk paint, I really want to try out the two toned paint look and the dark wax next!

If you are local to AZ, you can purchase Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint at Green Table Gifts, or order online from 'Round the Coop!

D.I.Y. Tutorials // Upholstered Bedframes

Oh, the hassle of a bed skirt. Although they are pretty they can also be pretty hard to work with! I have been seeing some tutorials floating around on how to solve that problem. Behold:

via mamma rake

via urban nest

via pinterest // uploaded by user

     Or velcro works nicely...

via trends and traditions

D.I. Y. Tutorials // Wood Planters

Ok, have you all been to Ana White? If not stop whatever you are doing and go spend the day there. She has so so many free plans to make just about everything under the sun! I spent about 3 days scouring her blog and drooling over all the amazing projects I want to start making. Some day I'll be making this beauty

Source: ana-white.com via Rosemary on Pinterest

Swoonzies. But for now, I need to start small, so I chose this project for my first

Source: ana-white.com via Rosemary on Pinterest

So cute, right? If you want to whip up your own Planters, follow these instructions on Ana White's website!

D.I.Y. Tutorials // May Day Baskets

Today is May Day! I have always wanted to participate in the holiday! For those of you who are not aware of the May Day tradition, here is a quick breifing taken from A Field Journal:

"Chapter IV: May Day" in The Original Girls Handy Book (a reprint of a book published in 1887), had a few things to say about "a very pretty custom observed in Merrie England of fastening bunches of flowering shrubs and branches upon the doors of neighbors." The author writes of the (then) surviving tradition in New England, of "hanging upon the door-knobs of friends spring-offerings in the shape of small baskets filled with flowers."

Here is my inspiration for a container (I followed their tutorial in the link below):

via design sponge // diy paper party cups

I want to watercolor paint white paper cups, punch two holes at the brim and hang with ribbon and a big bow. And I would obviously fill them with flowers!! I thought this would be very cost efficient and easy for throwing it together on MAY FIRST!! Procrastination!

Other May Day baskets to inspire!

via a field journal

via martha stewart

via beehive art salon

Just find or make a container, add a strap, fill with flowers and you are good to go adorn your friends doors! And wouldn't it be lovely to be on the receiving end?!

D.I.Y. Tutorials // Quilted Striped Throw Pillows

Last week I found an awesome tutorial on how to make Super Easy Throw Pillow Covers and whipped up some quick black linen ones for my couches in my living room {which I featured on my blog!}. 

They were so fun & easy and made such a difference in that room, that I realized I needed a few more accent pillows in that room and I found the perfect tutorial for some Quilted Striped Throw Pillows on the same blog, Sparkle Power. 

Source: candacetodd.blogspot.com via Rosemary on Pinterest

Today I'm going to JoAnne's armed with a 40% off coupon, and grab a couple 14" throw pillows, some cotton batting and some white cotton. I'll use the scrap black linen from my above pillows to piece together the pillow fronts- I can't wait to show off my finished product! 

D.I.Y. Tutorials // Painted Utensils

Mimicking Ladies and Gentlemen, there is diy over at Creatively Christy. I just might have to do this too.

Remember how our Grandma's had spoon collections with a spoon rack? Wouldn't this be a modern fix to keep that sentimental spoon rack alive in current decor?! I think yes!

D.I.Y. Tutorials // Fabric Teepees

I've seen so many of these dreamy little teepees all over Pinterest, and I wanted to make some for my twins birthday

Source: cottagemommy.tumblr.com via Rosemary on Pinterest

I scored some cheap vintage floral sheets at Goodwill, which are perfect for this project because they are wider than the standard 44" or 54" fabric you can buy at most fabric stores.

I simply followed this fabric teepee tutorial from Saw Dust & Paper Scraps, and sewed together my teepee covers, while Braden cut the pvc pipe to size and drilled hole to tie the poles together. Easy peasy Lemon Squeezy, and now we have 2 teepees to play in all summer! I want to make one for each kid to camp out in on those hot summer nights! 

D.I.Y. Tutorials // Easter Books

These books were made as a hand-out at a party. We are so pleased at how cute they turned out! And what fun to add something that isn't a basket or eggs to your Easter decor!

ONE // Get some books. We found these Readers Digests at a thrift store for .25 each. Using painters tape (or duct tape) tape off the pages of the book as a whole. Spray paint the outside and edge of the books. Once paint is dry, remove the tape (carefully).

 TWO // Use the front of the book as a template to cut out a rectangle of decorative paper that will fit as the cover of your book. You only need to do decorate the book that will be on top of the stack. Mod Podge the paper onto the book. Don't stress too much about air bubbles and perfect straightness. The air bubbles help the book look aged and the paper that hangs over a bit will be taken care of later. Mod Podge your image onto the upper half of the book cover. Wait overnight for books to dry completely.

THREE // Once dry, sand the edges with sand paper. Then distress with distressing ink and some paper towel. Use little if any on the spine, you don't want the original title of the book to show through.

sanding

distressing ink

FOUR // Embellish! Glue on jewels, flowers, glitter...whatever you want!

FIVE // Make your tags. I used shipping tags that you can get at any office supply store for a reasonable price. I used a sponge brush and painted the bottom third of the tag with craft paint making sure each brush stroke was in the same direction. I allowed them to dry with something weighing the tag down so that the tag wouldn't curl up because of the moisture. Add "Bunny Tales" to the tag in your cutest hand writing. We also chose to add some glitter glue and distressing ink.

FIVE // Tie the books together using your material of choice and add the tag.