Crib Skirt

I guess people call it nesting...I just call it getting ready.

My grandma is working on a baby quilt for this little guy and I thought...I should do a crib skirt.  Since our baby room is pretty small, I will be maximizing all the storage space I can-which includes under the crib.  I don't want people walking in and seeing all the stuff shoved under there (because let's be honest...I'm sure it won't be as organized as I would like).  So, I decided to buy some fabric, look at some tutorials on pinterest and make my own bed skirt. 

So without further adieu...

measure the length of the crib...the width of the crib (times that by 2) and how tall you want the skirt to be...

 

Mine was 27.5 w x 52 l x 16 tall

measure the base fabric (this is like the sheet that everything is sewn to and sits below the mattress)

measure your fabric and allow for 1"seam allowance..

iron all fabrics

pin down the hems..

lay it out to make sure it looks pretty

sew hems, then sew base to each side of skirt (remember...right sides together)

after all sides are sewn to base...put it in the crib...pretty good fit I think

finished product. front view

close up on the corners...

side view...

All in all it was pretty easy.  It took me maybe a little over an hour.  I got my fabric at Quilts Etc.  It was a little pricey, but it totally fits the room. 

Total Cost: $26
Time: 1 hour

Pinterest in action...

I've been spending most of my spare time on pinterest.  So much time just looking until I decided to actually do some of the things I've seen and loved.

So...here are a few of the projects I've attempted:

Leafy green pillar candles.

really easy and I think they add a bit of spring to a plain pillar candle

And, I made these last week.

I think they are so dang cute and everyone who has seen them at my house says they just love them:)

The original isn't on a stick, but I thought they were cute as standing flowers in vases (since my real daffodils hadn't quite bloomed yet).

And here's one more I didn't see on pinterest, but thought I could make these cheap soap pumps from Wal-Mart look a little more classy using my cricut.

just hoping the letters actually stay on when they get wet...

So, there you have my crafts...I've been desperately attempting one more...tried it THREE times, but still can't get it to look as good as the tutorial (of course not...I am not a professional craftswoman ... or blogger), but we'll see if I ever get it right.

Draft Stopper

Our front door lets in a LOT of cold air through that annoying little slit on the bottom. Well, today no more cold air is gettin' through!

I bought heavy fabric at Wal-Mart for about $2 (1/2 yard) and a couple of bags of split peas ($3 each) and made myself a draft stopper.

I got a neutral color so I wouldn't have to worry about color coding...

And I put the peas in a separate sleeve so I can wash the cover anytime it gets dirty

I decided to add a "handle" to it (you can't see it in the photos) so I could hang it on the door (once I get some hooks installed) so we don't have to move it every time we use the door.  That way, it will just move with the door.

All in all:
Total Cost: $9
Total Time: 1 hour

stairwell finally painted

We've been meaning to paint this since...well, when we painted the kitchen. 

It's amazing what happens when I have a day off:

now it matches the kitchen:)

Old Board refurbished

This thing was in our house when we moved in...I've always thought it was ugly. At one point I nearly took a hammer to it.
Today I decided to refurbish it and make it my "craft" board.  All it took were a couple cans of spray paint...and about an hour.
Here are before and after shots:

closeup of before and after

the entire area

a little closer

Originally I painted everything but the cork board that tan color (the cork board is a metallic spray paint), but I didn't like it AT ALL, so I decided to try spraying the edges black...turns out I LOVE the look.  Now it doesn't look old and outdated...more like new and sophisticated:)

total time: 1 hour
total cost: free (pre-purchased paints)

Remote Stand

We've got a lovesac downstairs and we watch movies down there sometimes.  Well, we just don't have a stand to put our drinks and remotes on...until today.  I figured out the dimensions and asked my wonderful grandpa if he could make me a simple 16" box.  I bought a can of red spray paint at Walmart for less that $2 and spray painted it.

Now, we have something the perfect size and height for our drinks and remotes :)


Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes (includes drying time)
Total Cost: $2.22 

 

headbands

So, Blake was working tonight and I felt like being a little crafty.  I had some scraps left over from my quilt and thought, hey-why don't I make some headbands out of them...

Well, here they are.  I did have to buy some elastic and JoAnns, but it was still a quick and cheap (and fashionable) little sewing project.

Total Cost: $1.50 for elastic
Total Time: 30 minutes