Upcycled Diaper Boxes

If you are like me then you accumulate a ton of boxes. Diaper boxes, wipe boxes, boxes of things you shouldn't have bought online but couldn't help yourself :D. I have a lot of boxes stacked near the trash that drive me crazy. I had seen a few posts about up-cycling your boxes into cute storage. I like that much more than spending a lot of money on baskets that you can't customize. This way I could pick out my patterns and colors.

I decided to go with neutral & simple so I can move them from room to room if I want. I got some 12x12 scrapbook paper, which was big for my boxes so I had to cut it, for about 30 cents each.  I did not care about the sides as much since they are going to be on a shelf next to each other and up high so I wont even see the sides.

Supplies
Scrapbook paper
Exacto knife or Scissors
Modge Podge
Applicator brush
Spray paint (optional)

Set the box upside down on the scrapbook paper. Pretty side down/white backside up. Trace the outline of the box so you know where to cut. 

Cut as close as possible. 

Spread a layer of modge podge on the front of the box. 

Then immediately put the scrapbook paper on. Smooth out all the bubbles and let dry. 

 Before spray paint:

Kitchen Cabinet Makeover-Part 2

Ready, set, finish!

I am so excited to be done with the cabinets. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted. After researching for months about the best way to do your own white cabinets, I can finally say the cabinets are done! Yes, of course I do have the countertops to still do too but the cabinets were what I was really scared about. Here are the final steps to finishing up your marvelous new cabinets with pretty reused hardware. 

Supplies:

• Latex Enamel Paint- $25
• Mini roller and pan- $3
• Great quality brush- $14
• Rustoleum spray paint of your choosing- $6

I let all the primer set for a day then we went over the cabinet frames with the white paint we got from Lowe's. We decided to get the enamel latex paint in ultra white. After talking to the guy at the paint desk about the options for oil-based paint or enamel latex, we concluded it was the better choice. The enamel latex has barely any/if no smell at all, easy to get off your hands, dries quickly, amazing coverage, and rock hard. After the first coat I was convinced that the man at Lowe's was an angel. I wasn't high off fumes like the oil-based primer and I saw my kitchen coming to life. 

We used the same technique as the primer; brush on paint then roll over gently with mini roller. I would also recommend trying to go with the grain as much as possible. By the time we finished, the first ones we did were already dry. We decided to do another coat because it looked spotty from the foam roller and plus another coat couldn't hurt. It turned out beautifully after the second coat, and I'm not just saying that because we were drinking wine at the same time. ;)

I have always loved the oil-rubbed bronze look of hardware against the stark white on cabinets. It's such a bold contrast that catches your eye. So it was a no brainer on what color to do the hardware in. Since I am on a tight tight budget for the kitchen then I am putting off buying new pulls for later *tear*. That won't stop me from making a trip down the beloved spray paint aisle at Lowe's though. After searching through the hundreds of colors on the shelf, I see it…Rustoleum Metallic oil rubbed bronze. My heart skipped a beat or two. It was like a light was spotlighting it with angels singing (or maybe the paint guy singing) behind me.

 While the cabinet doors were still curing from the primer, I set up a space to spray paint my hardware. I scrubbed all the nasty grime that had been setting in since the house was built in 1998 then patted dry and got to work. Pumpkins were my handy helpers today. They held the kraft paper down while I went crazy with the spray paint. This was my first time using the fancy spray trigger. I usually go old school with the tiny press down nozzle. This was sooooo much easier, plus it was the only style this color came in so I had no choice. It dried within minutes and I didn't have to be super careful with the hardware after it dried. I usually feel like I would mess them up, kind of like when you get a manicure and you awkwardly get your card out to pay because you don't want to mess up the nails.  Anywho, I was more than pleased with the look of the new hardware.

Ugly, mismatched brass & silver hardware...

Beautiful, perfect oil-rubbed bronze hardware…i took an after picture but it has mysteriously disappeared like most things in this house.

We did 2 coats of paint on the frames & doors, I definitely recommend doing it during the days so you can see everything better. Unfortunately, because of work and family I did not get to paint during the day so I did have to go back and fix little spots. The contrast between the white & bronze hardware is beautiful. It makes my kitchen feel bigger and brighter which is what I was going for so SCORE! I still have to put the bead board wallpaper on the side of the cabinets facing the sink, but I am tired of cabinets right now so I might do that in a few weeks. Also that patch where the old cabinet was above the fridge needs a coat of paint. Eye sore ALERT!

I LOVE THEM! 

Check out the before & first few steps here!

Next stop is the countertops. I am starting to get my handy tutorials and lists out for the butcherblock counters. They will go with my island well too. My favorite project is actually going to be my white plank wall that will be the main attraction in the kitchen. I have already moved a few things around to get everything ready. The hubby will actually be helping with this project. YAY! I feel like the hardest project is done, i hope. 

Coming soon to a kitchen near...me:

Plank wall with shelves

Butcherblock counters

Beadboard cabinet sides

Shelves above fridge

I will post the pictures and links that inspired me to get off my butt to makeover my kitchen. I won't stop there though, the laundry room & master bath are already being measured, planned, and drawen out.

Oh, and Raleigh found my camera charger yesterday so now I won't have scratchy, grainy pictures anymore. Sorry.

Mirror Redo for less than $25

Hey yal!

I know in my last post I gave you a sneak peek at Miss Raleigh's new mirror. It's finally done & ready to hang. It's a heavy one so the hubby has to hang it to make sure it stays put. If i did it then it would probably fall off the wall in the middle of the night & give me a heart attack. I'd be up with a gun & never go back to sleep. I'm paranoid at night.

Anyways, about a month ago I was lucky enough to catch a sale at Hobby Lobby for 80% off there furniture & wall accent pieces. I found this massive mirror I'd been searching everywhere for. Seriously, Craigslist with an addiction for me because I was trying to find something like this. Well at Hobby Lobby it was originally $100, my sale price...$20!!! The only problem...it was neon ORANGE! Nothing a little can of yellow spray paint can't fix (less than $4). That was not the color I was hoping for & the material was like some plaster kind of plastic, but the frame is heavy duty. The weight was ridiculous!

After boasting to the hubby about my find & grinning from ear to ear, I decided to find my spray paint. I knew I had a lot of yellow left over from my fan & that bright pop of color will look good on her walls when I finally paint the stripes I want. Gray & white stripes to be exact ( I am super excited to do this one, but have been putting it off because the stripes are a little scary).

I covered the mirror with some paper & tape. I told you...BRIGHT orange!

After many, many, many coats I finally got all the nooks & crannies. I had to go over the detailed scrolling a couple extra times to make sure it seeped into the cracks.

I pulled off the paper & tape. Unfortunately some spray paint got on the mirror, but the hubby was sweet and scrapped it off with a razor blade while I cooked dinner. Then cleaned it with Windex for that shine.

I have to say that this was a STEAL. I love it & it's perfect for her room. I've been looking for so long for this kind of frame. It looks like the wait paid off. ;)

Adding More Color to the Mason Jars

Hey everyone!

Hope yal had a great 4th! Holidays seem to come up so fast these days, so I am behind...AHH! I know I've been busy with work, Raleigh, cleaning & cleaning  wife stuff & having a cousin visit from Colorado (love you Haley); so I have been stretched a little thin these past few weeks. I have to start getting Ms Raleigh's first birthday stuff together because it'll be here before I know it.

I have been looking at Pintrest...again. I know, i know...scary thing seeing how much I post on there. I sit at my desk when it's slow at work finding things on there that inspire me. The other morning I found a new obsession: WASHI TAPE! It's pretty much glorified electrical tape, but much prettier. You can get almost any color & pattern.

I got good feedback on my summery mason jars, which I am still in love with, but the lids were poking me in the eyes with their shiny metal. I love stainless steel look don't get me wrong, but I wanted the lids to be just as colorful & fun as the jars themselves. I thought what better way to add that pop than with my new washi tape!

First, I wanted to spray paint the lids white so it'll stay with the light pastels for summer.
Once it dried I had to decide which tape & order to use. That was the hard part lol :) It only took an 1"or so of tape for every strip.

I have more colors coming in now so I might change them again every so often. I am gonna dress up my Kitchenaid mixer with them too.

DIY fan

Spring is here...somewhat. Here it is still a little flip-floppy on the weather, but wait 5 minutes and we might catch a glimpse of warmth. Springtime is a time for growth & revival. Easter has come & gone with rain & cloudiness attached. My little family went to church, had lunch, saw more family, then had to go to work. Work was a bummer that day, but I am happy I got to spend time with my baby girl & hubby.

It's April so it's time to spring clean. YAY! Spring cleaning is for me is pulling out new clothes from storage & updating old dusty stuff. I have to do a lot of both this year, lucky me.  I wanted to do a fun new project before I clean. I've been itching to do a DIY lately, but I'm a procrastinator so it took me awhile to get all my supplies. I had a terribly dusty, old, ugly fan in my room that needed a lot of TLC. I use a fan when I sleep, always have since I was a kid, just for the humming noise. When I saw this I kept wanting to updat it but had no inspiration how or initative to do so. Now with spring being here I have more pep in my step.

Before:

Gross! Blah! Took me several minutes to clean all this dust off it. I unscrewed the face and cleaned all the nook & crannies. 

Then I spray painted the fan with a flat white. I did 2 coats to cover anything trying to shine through.

                               

I lined the inside with newspaper so the color spray paint wouldn't ruin the white back. I left 1 blade uncovered then sprayed with the color i wanted. Each blade got a different color. I stuck with basic colors, so they would blend well. Make sure you do this on a warm day so they paint wont crackle & it'll dry quickly. Put the face back on and there you go :)

After:

I was very happy with the end result. It gives a nice spring color to our room & I don't have to look at that dirty thing again. I love spring & summer. Everything is warm & sunny. Plus the outdoors are much more fun when I can feel my fingers & toes.