Bedroom Closet Makeover

On to a new project. (Can we say ADHD?) I know, I know, this is why I never finish a project! But now that you see my closet you can see why I might have trouble concentrating. The scary thing is that this closet was reorganized in the past. But it is time for something nice to look at. But this entry is not about the closet. It is about the box. This is the bedroom that opens up to this closet. Again with the doors. I don't know why we have door issues, but our lives are better without them.

I am not a big supporter of shoving things under beds and in closets and drawers as you can see. (a little sarcasm) I am all for storage, but it makes me crazy to anticipate an avalanche every time I want to retrieve something from the remotest parts of life. I hate even more buying something I know I have. Somewhere.

So the closet must be beautiful and it must match this scheme. See bedroom photo. The boxes must be approximately 8 in. high and 12 in. deep. Like the ones I already have that don't match. Lastly, the need to actually be sturdy. These dollar tree boxes just don't cut it. Also it would be nice if they were not $7 - $12 a piece.

Do you think I could find something this specific? Of course not. So I decided to try my decopauge with contact cement again.

The best boxes in the world are oil can boxes from an auto store. They always have them, they always have a lot of them. They are super sturdy and free. Incidentally, they are perfect for moving books.

I did look high and low for the perfect paper to cover these, but I ended up printing my own after photoshopping some internet clip art.

Now I have about 9 more to do! Hopefully WITHOUT spilling half a can of contact cement on my carpet.

The printing is killing the economical part of it though. I may try to find some inexpensive neutral wrapping paper for the lining and bottom to bring down my cost.

By the way, my closet is not really this bad. I just already started painting it and wanted a good before picture. I took this when I made over the bedroom cuz I had everything not in the picture all crazy looking and it was pretty funny the contrast when you turned your back.

And you don't smile or put makeup on in before-you-lose-50-lbs pictures now do you?

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Embellishments

I added pink gems to my sewing box turned office supply box.

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Closet Makeover Continued

Ok, so I am finally getting around to the top of my linen closet. We don't have a bathroom cabinet so that is why there are no linens in my linen closet. And my cabinet door broke off my cabinet, and I would have to have them custom made, so I am going with a cabinet fit for presentation. The top cabinet is where we keep our toilet paper and other stuff everyone has and pretends like they don't. So I got these great boxes at michael's on sale. So there is one for feminine hygiene, one for soap and travel stuff (my husband travels a lot) and the big one for toilet paper (the extra outside of what we keep handy in the bathroom cuz who wants to fetch TP from the hall.)

And can I just say there is something about black paint that makes you think "oh, I shouldn't be doing this, but wah ha ha ha ha ha! (evil laugh) I love it!"

There! All those unmentionables are nicely displayed in plain sight. Maybe that evil laugh belongs here!

Alas, I am still not finished. I need to remove that pesky last remaining hinge, sand, and paint the woodwork and drawers. If I finish completely, I SO deserve a cookie!

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Sewing Box Turned Desk Organizer

I found this sewing box at the thrift store. I suppose a jewelry box would work too. I stripped it, gave it a fresh coat of paint and brought it back to usefulness. I didn't paint the inside of the top because of all those bobbin holders. I will need spray paint for that, but I probably just won't do it cuz I am lazy.

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Decorative File Folders

Who wants to leave ugly file folders out on their desk? Sure there are super cute folders out there now, but if you care enough to be specific and have more time than money, decorate your own! Use contact cement. It's awesome!

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Office Nook

Here is the office book almost complete. I went with a pink and black French theme. I decopauged the honour box and some old file folders, I got the pencil box from the thrift store ($2). Eiffel Tower book ends at Hobby Lobby who has a whole isle of Paris($10). The sewing basket was a thrift store find ($6) which I painted with some left over paint. The three 4 in. frames were extras I had laying around and I printed off Eiffel tower pics. My friend gave me the amore sign from Michaels. The little glass post it holder I just had to have and the Paris sign with hooks (Hobby Lobby $10). So far only $28 for the entire makeover! You gotta love that!

Now all that's left is find some way to tidy the cords, find a perfect cafe style chair and a pic to go over the bulletin board, put a ribbon on my clip board to hang on the hook, and decorate the bulletin board. Eventually add a small black chandelier for lighting. That will be the cherry on top and my reward for actually completing a project!

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Decorative Boxes

contact cement it's my favorite. I've been trying and trying to make decorative boxes. finally success! I tried glue, I tried the decopauge, I tried tape. I am a little high now, but I have a perfect box. This was a Whitman's chocolate box. And I am one step closer to my tiny little French corner office. Ooo la la!

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Philip and Jonathan on How to be a Girl

When you see each other shriek in delight and hug for 10 minutes.

Show each other your new purses.

Scream about everything, especially boys.

And when you fight look away and slap like crazy.

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Office Nook

I have a tiny house. It is nearly impossible for me to have my own space. But I have this little built in corner book that sits right outside my bedroom in the hall that I have transformed into my office.

It is a small space to be sure. This was the first phase. In these first photos I cleared out all the decorative stuff and plugged in what things I think would be necessary for it to qualify as a functioning office. It will be organized something like this.

Now I have to figure out how to make it look nice.

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Girls Night

We let our girls get together for a night out. We decorated aprons with printable iron ons and made homemade pretzels. It wasn't quite as easy as it sounded, but not so bad I wouldn't do it again. Though the pretzels were yummy, they were just hard to shape. The dough just wants to spring back. A pretzel with a nice presentation will definitely take practice.
My favorite is to coat in melted butter and cinnamon sugar. Forget the salt!
We made the dough first so we could decorate the aprons while we waited for it to rise.
I found the recipe here:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/buttery-soft-pretzels/detail.aspx

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Garden Blessings

This spring we built a small raised bed garden out of two old pallets. Then we went to a local nursery and each kid was allowed to chose a vegetable plant and a flowering annual.

Despite over 100 temperatures since a week before spring began we were able to go out today and be surprised by a little harvest.

This is not the first batch of cucumbers of course, but that little cucumber plant has really kicked them out. Too bad I'm not crazy about cucumbers.

This tiny watermelon was a big surprise. I cut it off the vine because it had a big black spot on it. I was going to throw it away, but decided I would cut it up and see what was going on inside. Inside it was perfect and ready to eat. Super cute! Why don't they sell them like this? They're the perfect size for kids!
It makes me wonder if the other ones are ready to eat. I would hate to cut them off too late or too early.

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Quick Bedroom Makeover on the Cheap

These window scarves were nine dollars at Big Lots, and they carry them all the time in assorted colors. I used a staple gun to hang the bed balance. Now its time to give my picture mats and frames a fresh coat of paint to update their look and coordinate them.

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