Palet Ottoman tutorial

A couple of months ago I snatched onto a great rectagle palet from work. I was beautiful! The wood looked great but more importantly the top was almost solid. I knew right away it would be the perfect project. I had decided it would become an ottoman.

Now my problem was finding the right fabric and getting the foam. Thankfully both were on sale this last weekend at JoAnn's. So my Presidents day was spent buidling my new ottoman. It turned out fantastic. I really like it but my boys love it- all 5 of them! ;-)

There are several tutorials on Pinterest. Here is what I did.

Step 1: I used spray insulatin foam around the edges. I didn't want to feel the wood pressing through the edges of the foam. The insulation foam said it would take 8 hrs to set but it was good to go after just a couple of hours. I was really glad. I didn't know how long my boys would resist the temptation to play on it again. It was too cold to put outside.

Step 2: After the insulating foam came the batting. I just used some remnant batting to put over the top and around the edges. Then I placed the camping foam on top of that. One side note: I bought a foam pad by the yard at Joann's but it is much cheaper to use a mattress foam pad. Yeah, a DUH! moment.

Step 3: turn the palet upside down on your fabric.

Step 4: Stretch the fabric tight and staple it to the bottom.

Work all the way around. For each side I started in the middle and worked my way out.

Step 5: I used some left over canvas to finish off the bottom. I love the clean underside.

See, so much better than the rough edges of wood and fabric.

Step 6: Add the plates for the feet. Home depot to the rescue.

Step 7: Screw on your feet. I haven't done anything to finish mine yet. I couldn't decide how to finish them or whether to just leave them natural....

Step 8: sit back and enjoy your new furniture! My boys love this new addition.

I think decided to paint the feet red. What do you think?

Trash to Treasure...

I find myself looking at "trash" in a whole new light. 

While out shopping with my friend I picked up a bottle top. My friend wondered if I had lost my mind. She asked what I was picking up a bottle top for. I told her I planned to use it on a hair bow. Her response was "uhm, ok!?" I think she still thought I was crazy.

Well, this is what I had in mind...

I spray painted the bottle top metallic, added a princess sticker and placed it in the center of ribbon.

I originally had it like this...

but I felt it was missing something. I think curling some of the ribbons was just what it needed.

My other great find was a nightstand. I didn't get a before picture taken, just picture 1970's brown with brass....

I actually picked this up for my friend. Now I am WAY jealous. I should have kept it for myself. I'm sure I could have found a spot for it...somewhere. ;-p

Kaylyn finished this herself. She said she would never have done this before but now, she can't wait for the next project.

She added the feet. I'll let you in on a secret...

They are fence post tops!

I love Love LOVE it!

and it only cost about $25!

It's amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do!

Thrifty finds for future projects....

I just realized it has been a while since I posted one of my craft projects. Could be because I have been busy with other projects ie. class parties and working. BUT! Never fear! I picked up some fabulous finds this past week and will be posting those redo's over the next week as I finish them. My favorite (I think?) is a free table from my work. They replaced it and were just going to toss it. I asked to have it. The bones were good it had just lost its top finish. Trash recycled!

My dear sister has been on the lookout for a nice bedside table for a while. Since her room is miniture itty bitty a bit small she couldn't get something the usual size. When I saw this at the local thrift store I sent her a picture and ended walking out with it. $10 is all! Once again, good bones, still sturdy, just needing a bit of TLC.

 Even though I have a house of boys I couldn't resist this lovely chair. It has beautiful lines and was begging to be redone for a little girl. I thought of my dear friends daughter but she already has a chair in her room. Oh, but don't worry dear hubby, I still have several nieces who would love this little chair. How would that be for an $8 birthday present?

 Last but not least my globe. Now, you may not find a globe something to write home about but I have been eyeing the old world style globes for a while but they aren't cheap and I always end up walking away from them. Imagine how quickly I snatched this baby up when I walked in and saw it! Only $3! It's a little worn and wobbled but my darling hubby loves me and fixed it up nicely.

The worn look will go right along with the decor I have planned for our "Man Cave". Yep, that's what I am calling our soon to be finished (hopefully) family room in the basement. I will have my crafting room and I plan on this room being a place the boys can retreat to with their friends so "Man Cave" it is. lol

It's funny how I look at things completely differently now. Rather than just seeing something broken I look past the finish and see potential. Gotta love it! My total for this weeks upcycle= $21 for 3 peices of furniture and one decor item!

Project 18 of 52: Swifter duster

I Made it Monday!

I love Swiffer dusters especially for vaulted ceilings and walls. Last week I got started on my spring cleaning. While prepping for painting I used these on my walls and ceilings. here is the before:

Then after cleaning walls and my ceilings, no counter or table tops. It's amazing what can accumulate through winter!

YUCK! This little things pick up a lot but then you have to trash them. I love them but HATE how expensive they are. So I was thrilled to find this tutorial. Today I finally got a chance to make them. I just used left over flannel from a quilt. I actually made 3 of them in about a 1/2 hour.

 

Simple!! Plus I will get to reuse them. We will see how they do. I think they would make good gifts too. I was thinking I could put a couple in my juice canister. So what have you made lately? Any good ideas?

Organize those sacks

My sis-in-law and I have been talking about frugality lately. We are both trying to pinch our pennies in more was than one. Some out of necessity, some out of practicality. She is an inspiration to me in how she can decorate and cook, etc on pennies. I love her decor and she pays so little for it. I usually have great ideas but the cost too much for me to accomplish. Anyway, I have been looking for useful and stylish ways to reuse stuff. I love to organize and just don't do well with chaos. My drawer of bags- you know the Ziplocs, trash, bread, etc is out of control! I love my reusable grocery bags so I don't have many of them but they tend to get crazy too. Well, with this in mind I came across a great idea. You know those clorox wipes containers?- this is what I did!Take the label off the container and glue your own on. I used 6x12 on both my containers. The red one is a little short but the labels don't go all the way around themselves. I love how the blue and green one looks.
Now, I plan to fill them with sacks. Grocery sacks will fill the one under the bathroom sink for a quick refill of the garbage. Bread sacks will no longer roam free in the sack drawer. VOILA! Instant organization. What do you think? I can't take credit... like most ideas I'm not the original source but I definantly know how to reproduce a great idea.

My other project of this weekend is scrapbooking. I scanned some of the LDS papers into my computer to work with. I haven't found a lot of LDS themed digi scrap supplies so I took matters into my own hands. Our friends little boy was baptised last month and they forgot their camera. We took lots of pictures for them and I planned to scrapbook them into a mini book. Plus, this spring I will be ready when Keegan turns 8. I can't believe it's coming up already!
I got my outside Halloween decor down but not the inside. I will hit that later this week. I plan on getting the outside lights up this week-maybe tomorrow- too. I love this time of year! We hit the Toys R Us sale this weekend. I think our shopping is just about done. I just have several more projects to make. I need to get sewing and MORE crafting, oh, the horror ;-).......