Story of a SPArty: The Invite

This SPArty invite was so much fun to make!  Even better it was cheap!  A pack of cute paper from Michael's was under $5 (and use a 40% off coupon!) And the ribbon was $2 a roll.  We made 20 invites and used 10 sheets of paper (5 pink and 5 blue) and two rolls of ribbon.  (The solid color card stock I had on hand- free is always good!)  Total for 20 invites was less than $7!!

As always, I started out looking for inspiration.  I saw some super cute ideas on Pinterest Here and Here.  Then I did a quick Google images search and found this template.  

Using Word I typed up the words and played with the layout a little.  I ended up centering the "Sparty" then under it made two columns.  One side the invitation and the other the party info.  I printed on regular paper to see how it would fit.  It was super close.  I made a few adjustments and we were ready to roll.

There was a LOT of tracing in this project!  I had planned on using my Silhouette, but decided with trying to get the words centered just right (and with my work horse niece helping) we would do it the old fashioned way =)

After everything was cut out and the left over pencil lines were erased we were ready for details.

We used a silver Sharpie to trace an outline to give a finished look.  Also, at this point we wrote the names on the masks.  (The ribbon makes it uneven and is much easier to write before it is added.)  The ribbons were cut to 7 inches each.

Assembly line time!  I used hot glue on the ribbons while niece used Rubber Cement to add the words.  

The last step is tying the ribbon!  

Whose ready for a SPArty! Whoo-hoo!!

Manicures, Facials & Fashion galore

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What are you inspired to make?

Pantry Redo

What is the best place to start updating your entire house?  The pantry of course!  It's small enough to feel accomplished quickly and there's nothing like have food at your finger tips to keep up your strength while working on larger projects later on =)

Lots of ugly before pictures.  How blagh.

This project started with a very quick paint color decision.  No need to spend hours worrying about the color you've picked when it's the pantry.  I mean who else will be in there?  So, I saw a paint chip I liked and bought it.  Just. Like. That.  

Then I just went right to the painting.

 

Next I got the measuring tape out and made a plan for my shelving.  Part of my planning also including making a list of the things I knew I wanted to make room for like drinks and cereal boxes.  I 'chicken scratched' how I planned the pantry to look.  The measuring tape comes in handy to measure things like the height of paper towels and can goods.

After getting it all figured out I ran to the store and bought the wood and L brackets to attach the shelves.  When I got home I got right to the cutting and painting. 

Yes, I used my dog crate to hold some boards.  Don't judge.

So, then it was on the the fun stuff.  Well, only fun when you have a 18 month old crawling on your back when you are trying to screw shelving into small cramped spaces....

I decided I NEEDED some contact paper on my shelves.  I found the coolest "stainless steel" looking contact paper! I'm in love!!

What a cool product!!

 

At this point I'm pretty happy.  I have a place for cleaning supplies and a place for my toilet paper.  But... I just can't rest with that old school flooring.  It's just so bad.  So, I decided to do something a little crazy and a little risky.  

PAINT.  THE.  FLOOR!!

Clean floors are a must for this project.  I used TSP for my cleaning agent.  After it's nice and clean and dry I used a deglosser to get the surface ready to accept the paint.  Some people also use a sander at this point.  Being a very low traffic area I opted to skip that step. 

This proved to be a much quicker project than I expected. (When does that ever happen?!) I was able to do the whole floor from cleaning to finished while my son was napping.  Yes, you heard me right, all done during nap time!!

Then to top it all off I added my own definition of a pantry.  I am truly thankful for a pantry to have to decorate and fill with food to keep my family healthy and happy.

This pantry project was very simple and I accomplished it with no help!  You can too.  Get out and just do it =)

Thrifted Chair Makeover

While getting our house ready to put on the market I realized I NEEDED a chair in the master bedroom.  So, off to the thrift stores I went.  I found this chair at my favorite thrift store, Our Thrift Store.  This is my first time redoing a chair and I was excited to get right to work.  

 So this is where I started out.  A dirty, yucky green chair that looks like it's seen it's fair chair of business meetings. 

Can you see that price tag? $16.99.  Can't beat it!

I started by taking it apart.  The seat was pretty easy, just flipped it over and unscrewed it.  The back was a little more tricky.  I couldn't figure out how to get to the screws.  

 So, I just took my screwdriver and tried to pop out the little wood piece.  To my surprise it worked!  Some were a bit stubborn but they all came out.

Try to keep up with which screw went where.  I put all small pieces in a baggie until it was time to put the chair back together.  

After taking it apart I cleaned it with steel wool.  This chair was an inch thick with nasty.  So it got a major scrub.

And then it got a light sanding with a sanding block.  Nothing crazy.  I like things easy and simple.

 Now on to the good stuff.  Spray paint!  I sure do love this stuff.  And more than the paint I LOVE my spray paint handle deal.  Pretty sure it was like $5 and I have used it countless times.  Keeps the fingertips nice and happy!  So, I first used a primer.

The plan was to do a stressed look.  I hadn't found my fabric yet and thought I was going to go shabby chic.  Which is why I started with the white.

 I read somewhere (I wish I could remember where!) To use petroleum jelly where you want your piece to be distressed.  Since I have an 18 month old I just went right into his room and tried it out.  I stuck my finger in and wiped it on the edged of the chair in various places.

 On to the main color.

 This is what an area with the jelly looked like before wiping it off.  I just used a towel and wiped the whole chair down good.

 I was happy with how it turned out, until I found my fabric.  I fell in love with the fabric, but thought it needed a more finished look.  I took the chair frame back outside and painted it one more time.

 This would be the least enjoyable part of the whole project.  Getting the old fabric off was a PAIN!  And felt so gross.  Ugh.

I used several different methods for pulling out the staples.  A screwdriver, pliers, yelling to name a few.  I ended up with work gloves on after popping the screwdriver into my hand several times.

Once the fabric is off you have a nice template for your new fabric.  At this point I also took the foam seat and sprayed soaked it with fabric refresher.  I also had batting left over from another project so I cut a piece to make the seat just a little more comfy.

Isn't this fabric the best?  I kinda want to eat it.  But that's another story.  I got it at my new favorite fabric store, Dickson's Vacuum and Sewing Center.  I got 2 yards for $15!  FYI it took less than 1 yard.  I wanted extra just in case I may want to do another chair later.  Since I was using both hands I don't have pictures of putting the new fabric on the seat.  It's a simple process.  Cut the fabric a little larger than your template (the old fabric).  Lay the seat on top and pull up one side to staple, then the opposite side.  The do the other side then last side.  Then just pull tight and staple all the way around.

 I popped the seat back into the chair frame to admire. (This is also when I decided to repaint the chair.)

 So, getting the back recovered was a little bit more complicated.  The old fabric was made up of two pieces that were sewed together.  I didn't really want to, but I seam ripped the two pieces apart and cut out the two pieces and ran to the sewing machine.  Made a quick stitch to replicate the old fabric.  I wrapped it around the chair back and did all the stapling on the sides.  Same place I took the staples out.

 I just set the back in to admire before all the finishing touches.  I did need help from the hubs to screw it back together.  My arms just weren't long enough to get the pressure I needed to do it alone.

 And there you have it.  A sitting area in my bedroom!

Chair: $17

1 yard of Fabric: $7.50

Paint: $5 (estimate)

Total cost: $29.50

I love to be inspired! I hope you are inspired too!