A little no-cost makeover

Anyone else out there relieved to pack away the holidays?  The house always looks so large once the tree is down, and the holiday decor is safely packed away and out of sight for another year.  However, the large space always leaves me feeling the urge for a change, and a fresh room.  It'd be easy, given all the money in the world, to plan out a fresh new space.  The trick though is to try a no cost makeover.

Our room has pretty good bones.  The couches are neutral, there's a brick fireplace, white slatted blinds, hardwood floors, etc.  I couldn't picture the room pulled together though (for our no-cost makeover) until the other day that I sat on the opposite couch in the room and it came to me.

Our makeover will be based on this color scheme:

 

So, the execution plan will consist of the following:

Paint ladder shelf black (I showed you this shelf before here)

Recover couch throw pillows in white fabric (I've done that once before, here)

Add series of four Black and White NY City prints to the room (from the office, that's not being used)

Reorganize picture frame ledges (see them before, here)

Add white cylinder lamp shade to current lamp, plus add another lamp (this room is dark at night!)

Re-arrange furniture

Here's the room now (right after Christmas decor was removed).  

NOTE: This is not for the faint of heart... I'm not proud, and I wouldn't consider this room pulled or put together in any way... ok, disclaimer over, now you can see the photos.  :)

How on earth do you decorate/stage a fireplace like this?!

The tree (9ft this year!) was in that back corner

Anywho, I hope to work on this room this weekend.  Our adorable baby boy though is so cute, that I just love hanging with him, so I'm not sure how much I'll get done!

Just thought I'd share.  Now, to get this done, and be excited over our room again!

Repotting Succulents

So I've got this really sad plant in the kitchen.  It's actually the second plant that's been in the pot, but it's just as sad as the first.  I can't seem to keep plants alive.  Except the neglected succulents, ironically, that I haven't touched in months:

And my sad indoor plant:

Please ignore the dirty stove.  I'm a new mom.

Remember when I posted a while back about my love for the colors and fullness of succulents?  Since that post, the aqua container I planted them in has been outside- it was fine during the summer, and now after the rains of the winter have passed, they were getting soggy.  Succulents don't need that much water, and prefer the soil to dry out.

Enter the light bulb!  I could take the sorry looking plant in my current pot, and replace with my beautiful succulents that have multiplied!  Yes!

Here they are outside being re-potted.  I snapped the succulents off the long stems near the flowery ends, and replanted them into my red pot for in the house.  I buried a few of the leaves, as I read online this was how you re-pot them.

 Now, they're inside, and making me so happy!  Just look at those colors and textures.  I sure hope the transplant worked.

I just love the colors, and the small water droplets from the water down are pretty too.

Have you ever re-potted anything successfully?  What about unsuccessfully?!  Any tips to share?

Happy-First-Monday-of-the-new-year!

Oh, and the cost, to add to my new "Decor Cost: 2011" tally?  A big fat $0!  I had the red planter pot, dirt, and the succulents already!  It was all about moving stuff around this time.  Gotta love $0!  :)

Project Tally Cost: 2011

As I mentioned in my previous post, I am hoping to be more fiscally responsible this year since our expenses are growing with a little one.

One thing I've missed out on through 2010 was decorating, because there was just no time.  I want to revamp our home again in 2011, and I thought a neat project would be to tally the amount spent in 2011 on my projects & decor for the house.

So, on the sidebar now, there will be a Decor Cost: 2011 tally section.  (see it over there, on the right side bar?)  I'll update that after my projects or revamps and purchases for the house are made.  I hope to do a lot with a little... what a game to play!

How do you keep tabs (or not!) on your budgets for decorating and making your house a home?  Do you set goals to spend, or do you put money aside?  Let me know your way of keeping your home fresh, but while being fiscally responsible.

New Beginnings, 2011

2010 was a busy year for us.  No, really.  From basically day one, we were going places, planning events, renovating the house, or dealing with our biggest accomplishment- our little boy.

As 2011 begins, I'm pausing and making sure that I focus on the important things in my life while having some fun, and being responsible fiscally as well.  Those are big goals to have but I'm sure it's possible.

Every day I want to tell those I love just how much I do.  I want to hug and kiss my son, husband, and even the dogs!  I want to keep a clean house, but also keep my sanity.  I will continue to take so many pictures that it makes everyone crazy, and I'll also do my best to be social.

And, on top of this, I'd really like to start blogging again.  Posts will probably be short and sweet again for a while, and maybe only here and there during the time that I start again, but I miss it.  It's an outlet for creativity that I need- Not only posting, but taking some time to view all the great things everyone else completes.

So here's to 2011- new beginnings, and changes abound, and I hope each of you are blessed with a peaceful year. 

Take care,

PS: The winner of the gift tags giveaway from the post back on December 8th was Katie!  There were 3 eligible entries, and Katie won!  Random.org was used to pick the winner.  Enjoy your Cardstore.com items!  Let us know what you picked out!

Ho-Ho-Holiday Cards: Giveaway!

Happy Holidays!

If you can believe it, little man is sleeping (thank you swing!) and I got a moment to pull my computer out and even do some shopping...

At the holiday time every year, I always need the following:

-Holiday Cards
-Gift Ideas for EVERYONE
-Martinelli's sparkling cider.

At least for the first one, my Holiday Cards, I can take care of that easily at Cardstore.com with their hundreds of Holiday Cards. 

If you've been following my blog at all (thanks, by the way!) you'll know already that I love this site to easily order personalized Photo Cards & other paper goods, like stationary, invitations, and announcements.  I have ordered cards in the past to showcase my photography, numerous stationary cards, and even my Wedding Invitations and Birth Announcements just a month ago for little man.

I will be ordering these "Red Scroll Border" photo cards today and get them in the mail:

Isn't my little man the cutest?  He had a blast with Santa :)

The hardest part?  There are so many great patterns to choose from- like over 350+ just in the holiday photo card section!  Bold red is my favorite, so I love the clean lines on this card.  Also, I chose to personalize the back as well.  :)  I chose to personalize Photo Cards at Cardstore.com this year, and it was fun to browse my photos of little man to find the best ones for the cards.

It's so easy- I really reccomend trying it out this year if you haven't ordered your Holiday Cards yet- they're even going to offer a giveaway for my blog readers!  Just leave a comment about your favorite part of the cardstore.com website and I'll enter you into the drawing- You'll get to pick- either a set of photo gift tags (another new item offered this year! see the selection here) or a personalized photo notebook (another newer item that you can check out here).   Entry eligibility closes Sunday (12/12/10) 11:59pm PST

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DISCOUNT FOR EVERYONE!

For the rest of you, you get a discount on any order right now too, just for being a Design-Aholic reader:  enter code CSHOLIDAY20 for 20% off you entire first Cardstore.com order!  Get those holiday cards NOW!

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Anyway, I really wanted to share with you quickly.  Go, check out the cardstore.com site, leave a comment to be entered into the drawing for the photo gift tags or notebook, and have a happy holiday!


Take care, and keep up those awesome Holiday Crafts... I hope to join in with a few this weekend :)

Introducing Little Man!

I've been M.I.A. again, and for great reason.  I wanted to introduce our little man, who is now 6 weeks old!

Minutes old!

 4 weeks old

(did you see this great weekly photo project from Young House Love?  We're trying to replicate it!)

1 month, on the re-covered glider mommy made :)

Getting time to eat, shower, and do any chores is basically unheard of, and let alone opening my computer, or even as far as blogging (luckily daddy is hangin' out with sleepy little boy right now, trying to coax him to sleep)...

So, there are a few super exciting things coming, maybe even a great giveaway, wink wink, but for now this is a post and run.

I can't wait to share with you again, but I'm trying to get used to our schedule and watch my little boy grow and change.  You understand I'm sure.  :)

Happy Thanksgiving- I'm grateful to all my readers, for a great family and home, and the desire and will to decorate.  :)

Take care everyone, see you soon!

Budget Friendly Alphabet Art

One of the last projects for Baby Boy's nursery was completing some sort of alphabet art.  I had originally desired to make the alphabet a large focal wall, but that can wait until the toddler years.  After all, Z said he doesn't need to know his alphabet until at least 6 weeks... :)  So, for now, artwork in frames is what I went for.

This was a super thrifty project-  We're talking $3 in frames (yes, they're the same color of the crib and glider wood!) from the dollar store- 11x14" even-  They're big!  The letters came from a pack that was $3, and I used only 1/2 of the pack, so lets call it $1.50.  The rest of the materials I had on hand: white fabric, acrylic paint, spray adhesive, fabric glue...

So, here's how the second attempt at my alphabet artwork came together.

I found this pack of letters at the one trip I've made to Walmart in years.  They were $3 for the pack, and turned out to not be what I thought they were (I thought they were cardboard, turns out they're more like post it note letters...).  I used the holographic letters that were also included since they were coated, and I knew the acrylic paint would stick much better than to the black paper letters.

I organized them in the frames (with the black letters first), and started painting with the 5 coordinating colors in totally random pattern.  (I don't do random well, but it seemed to work this time!)

Each letter took at least 2 coats.  Some of them took 3 since the paint brand was a little cheaper (more water in the paint?)

   

I took these $1 11x14" frames from the dollar store, and removed the cardboard backing.  I used the spray adhesive to adhere the frame insert upside down to the cardboard, and then used the spray adhesive again to adhere the white fabric to the boards.  (I used this same curtain liner fabric for the laundry basket liner I made.  I guess it worked out that I had extra)  I used my rotary cutter to trim the excess fabric so it was nice and snug in the frame.

Then, I used fabric glue to attach the letters in the predetermined pattern to the white boards.  Clean the frames up with some windex, and snap back together!  Then, photograph for blog...

They're not hung yet.  What I'm trying to determine is whether they should go horizontal along the wall, or vertical.  You be the judge (but quickly, since baby is coming any day now!).  The reason for the question is because I still need to incorporate the mobile into the room, and I figured it would go in the corner by the dresser.  So here's the wall the alphabet art will go on.  What do you think orientation wise? 

Let me know what you think!