Cheap Tray-fabulous!!

On the way to Seattle the other day we stopped off at Ikea, because well it's Ikea and if  you are nearby it is mandatory you stop in.  Period, check the rule book.

It was a quick trip and I did skip all of the fun mini rooms and went straight for the kill.

But not before I checked out the kitchen stuff.

I stumbled upon this 1.99 tray called Smula, not sure what smula mean but it was singing my song.

If you want one for yourself click HERE

It is a simple good sized tray.

Just a little too plain for my liking.

Easy fix, since you can see through it.

Dig out a fun design, I used a piece of scrap fabric that I looo-uve 

Flip the tray over so you are painting on the bottom side and start outlining or coloring.

Use any color you like, it's yours after all. 

I chose yellow to go with my outdoor stuff.

After I had gone over the design in the colors I wanted, I sprayed over all of that pretty stuff with a grey primer and then sealed it up with silver. 

Ikea Hack taaa-daaaa!

Now it is ready to use :)

Not a Moody Blue

Still sitting......

If confused read previous posts of whining.

I dragged a stool to the wall and pop opened my cans of paint.

I can at least sit and paint, right?

It was NOT a moody blue as I had picked out and hoped for. 

It's more of a nursery baby blue.  >:/

boooooooooo!

< Insert sigh of defeat here >

Ok, so pack up the paint and wait til I have some spare legs and head back to HD

The lady at the counter was totally awesome and a wizard at remaking the color.

I think she nailed it

top-previous color

middle-nursery baby blue

bottom-moody blue

< now you can insert sigh of relief >

We got back our tax refund I had been waiting for.  It was not as much as I had hoped and dissipated quite rapidly.  So much so, my head is still spinning.

I was not able to get a fabulous new couch but I did get a fabulous new to me couch :) 

I am now playing with the fabric to cover the pillows I have.

I'm thinking the chevron looks pretty awesome.

Rooo agrees.

The other night (a day after the sweet men in the house drag this home, after a 2 hr drive to retrieve it) there was a kinda surprise party for me and it really came in handy.

From a couch that fit 3 to one that had 8 people on it.  It was sooooo worth it.  I only paid 150 for it.

It's almost the same color as the chairs, which was accidentally awesome.

I can't wait to paint the walls and get everything moved to where it will be best utilized.

Oh I am also moving stuff around on my accent wall.  Here is a quick peak.

It's a small tribute to things that reflect my husband.

My favorite part?

That I can just shove the glass shelve between the slats until it's nice and tight and have  an instant shelf.  Taaaa-daaa

Ok am I wearing out the ta-da's?

crank up the jams!

So, still working on my art center.  Finished making my ruffle skirt for the desk, (it was a fail) and I even got to use the desk last week.  But what I sat in was a fold-up chair from the 40's.  It's funny the more cushion I have the more I need.  Think about it, if you're my age and slightly fluffy, it will all make sense.

I went looking for a chair, with cushion, and wheels.  I searched the thrift stores, with much sadness, I could only find the cheapest one to be 15 dollars.  That just does not sound cheap to me.  Then I went to Wal-Mart and what did I find?  This sweet little chair for (drum roll please) 8 dollars!  taaaa-daaaaa!

I liked it :)  I was not in love with it, but that is ok as it is only a chair.

Like most things I drag home it was not safe from being tampered with.  I thought of finding a cool tutorial for recovering with some awesome fabric.  Then I realize I only have a week left until my mother moves in.

So speedy was the word of the day.  So what is used often for a quick fix?  No, I did not use duck tape. I went on to the next one.  I pulled out my paint!  Then I funked it up, while jamming out. 

BAM! just like that.

I have seen many posts on painting fabric chairs and stuff.  And yes they are so much more dignified but this is MY art center and I like things a little different.  I'm suppose to be inspired down there not restful. 

I even did a little chevron just to appease the masses.

So be appeased (shaking fist in the air) hahahhaah sorry, sometimes I just have to amuse myself. 

I took it for a test drive and it handles nicely.

Ok time to get off here and bust a few moves.  I have lots to do.

I be back soon with the redo.

Didn't know I was a poet, did ya?

Before and After

I was reading a design blog called "Design Sponge" and I love love love her pics and the flow of her site. There is this one thing she does called before and after. People send in their before and after shot of what they created. It always amazes me how people create out of not much. So I had to try and I soooooo wanted to do something different, like paint it orange but could hear the voice of my husband. After much pondering I decided to do different but not totally out there. This is what I came up with. It was a free dresser that was dated but still in good shape. The colors in the room it was going in was pale blue with chocolate brown accents and a pop of orange to shake it up. I search for mod wallpaper to cover the drawers but was too pricey even for a small amount. So I used craft paper which totalled, maybe 1.50. After I had it on it still looked to quaint and not edgy enough. So I dugged out my paints and stain and had at it. Far away it looks stone like yet up close it's got a modern/contemporary feel to it. So recycled dresser, acrylic paint and stain and some craft paper = less than two dollar dresser made new.

I am convinced this was going to be easier than it has been. But most of my blogging ideas were in my head and there they still are. I surf and am so amazed at the creativity of so many out there. I have still been crafting, drawing, decorating, and hope to do some sewing. I have not been taking photos, hence my lack of blogging. I am sorry for anyone who actually reads this. I am a novice and lack the wit it takes to be something other than what I am.

I have recently finished hand painting some cups and can't wait to see how they came out after the firing. I am in the middle of another cassette art (Billy Joel) but had to stop until we no longer need the fans on. You would be amazed at how fast cassette tape shifts in the wind.

I have also been helping my daughter design and come up with a skit for her (hopefully) soon to be budding clown business. We have a name, character, and costume design. Just have to pull out the sewing machine and she's been working on her accent.

I have also redone the guest room from funky teen to a welcome neutral with a little funk on the side. Got to make it interesting. :)

So got many irons in the fire and hope to come up with something by next week.

oh yeah another pic from the "Battle of the Bands" party