Artsy Fartsy Designs

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Dresser Makeover!

So originally I bought this basic 4 drawer dresser when I was pregnant with my oldest. Couldn't find a dresser I liked anywhere & didn't want to buy the $500 changing table dresser. I wanted something that would last thru his teen years that didn't look like the 2 level changing table dresser. BEFORE i thought about IKEA, I bought a nude wood 4 drawer dresser & my husband stained it a dark brown for me. Then after M was born we were at Ikea and *THE DRESSER* was there. so then we had 2 (dressers that is, well we do have 2 kiddos now). I could have sold the 1st one on craigslist...actually I think i tried. Good thing it didn't sell. I ended up sticking it in the dining room corner. Sounds wierd, but it stored all my craft stuff in the dresser. it worked. for a while.

NOW, that I have a craft room & I live with 3 boys- this room is getting a complete girlified makeover. Funny thing is, my color scheme is blues, browns and whites. BUT allll girlie stuff that my husband would hate. think brown zebra print, ruffles, textures and all things girlie.

So then the dresser comes into play. The dark brown was just depressing in here, all the furniture is white, soooo......I had some fun on Friday! I was off work early, so I came home, opened the windows, turned on some music & had fun. My husband saw that crazy look in my eye so he stayed away.

I pulled out the drawers & sanded them down & the dresser too. Threw on a coat of white paint. Okay, so I got lazy & didn't do the whole thing with a coat of white, I did it on the dresser at least, but not the drawers. PERFECTION IS NOT KEY HERE!

Since I used my white acrylic paint (funny, right!) it dried very quickly. Then I used my Olympic "Sea Sprite" eggshell wall paint & went to town.

After picking up the boys from school, little M went down for a nap & I just lightly sanded down a few spots to rough it up & distressed it some.

LOVE HOW IT CAME OUT!

couldn't find a before shot. bad me. Buuuut I do have it as a background in this first pic...just so you get an idea.

finished project!! Don't you LOOOVE?

upclose distressed.

doesn't it look like it's been around for years? like it's been stuck in my grandmothers barn? if she had one? The best thing about it, if it gets scratched or scuffed, it's okay. It'll just add to it!

I LOVE recycling old furniture pieces!!!!

oh and if you're curious which dresser is now in my Boys' room, it's this one from ikea. Hands down makes the best changing table. It's the Hemnes 8 drawer dresser.

Yes I know, there's one white shelf & 1 black on the wall. Can you believe that was the ONE thing that would have completed the nursery (for both boys) and my husband 'never' got around to painting it black? God bless him. That's all I gots to say.

Burp Cloth tutorial

I love making these for baby gifts! Apparently, I love doing them so much that I'm making 2 sets of 3 FOR my sister who is giving them as gifts. HOW did that happen? There better be some good thank you out of this! ;) Bitterness aside, *I* love making these as gifts when I get to be the one giving them away! HA! They are super easy and who doesnt love cutesy fabric adorned burp cloths? (Thinking I might have to give my sweet sister a name/alias on this blog...perhaps "Project Manager" suits her juuuust fine. it still keeps her anonymous, right?) Love you sis! :)

Let me show you how easy it is!

I know some people say to prewash everything, but I don't. is that bad? I barely get my own laundry done, so this sure wouldn't get done if that was the case.

First you need:

Burp cloth

Fabric

Coordinating ribbon

white thread

sewing maching

1. Measure & cut fabric- I generally cut the fabric length about 21" long by about 4" wide. burp cloths are less than 21" long, but i tuck the ends of the fabric length in, pin & stitch for extra secureness. is that a word?

From Crafts

2. as i just said, tuck & pin the ends. sides don't need it because they will be covered up with the cute ribbon. I sew a lot of things and I don't pin much...shhh. i know. maybe I should pin things more. anyway, these I DO pin when working on them.

From Crafts

3. Stitch the ends and down the length of each side in the middle of the burp cloth.

From Crafts

4. These wonderful lines will help you stay lined up! Use them.

From Crafts

5. Once you've gotten it all stitched down, measure 2 lengths of ribbon. ~20-21" is good. Remember you need 2. WOW i did not stitch very straight on the right side. good thing is doesn't matter!

From Crafts

6. start at one end with the ribbon lining up right on top of the fabric. I have the end of the fabric meet the middle of the ribbon width. does that make sense? I again, tuck the end of the ribbon under itself & pin then work my way down one side & then the other.

From Crafts

7. Stitch down each side of each ribbon. I use the pressure foot as my guide to make sure I'm sewing straight lines. you do actually want these lines to look straight.

From Crafts

8. Don't snip the tails yet. I keep them long & when I'm done I double knot them tightly & then trim the threads.

From Crafts

9. TADA. all done. easy, right?

From Crafts

Here's the first set for my sister's friend who is having a girl. I hope she tells L that I made them & not her! I think the middle pink damask & green ribbon is my favorite!

From Crafts

Here's the set for her other friend who is having a boy. My sister plans on embroidering their initials on top of the fabric for some extra cutsiness!

From Crafts

Friday, March 5, 2010

Amy's Baby Gift

My sweet friend Amy I've known since 7 years old- We grew up in the same church and still keep in touch. She just had her 2nd baby earlier this past week. Keeping up tradition now with each baby gift, I can't just go buy bottles & diapers but I have to make a gift! as much as the hours are put into it, I do enjoy it. AND i do know how blessed it feels to be given a hand made baby gift- those are special gifts! Amy has the BEST theme ever for a boys nursery- 'vintage toys' think of all the books, blocks, toys we had as kids growing up. Sock monkeys, radio flyer wagons, Golden Books, etc. So wish I had thought up this theme for my boys! ha! I always make a playmat for baby gifts, it's one of those items that you don't really buy and dont usually specifically have, so that's my gift (along with a few other handmade things) something that can be used daily for the first 18 months!
I also made these 4" X 4" blocks that spell out Baby Bryson's name. I had to do some research for Amy's bedding so i could get the right scrapbooking paper. I don't know if she was just being nice, but they fit perfect in his room!

Tutorials for the blocks and playmat will come soon.....or when I make the next gift for another baby!

Blocks for Bryson

Amy opening up her gift at her shower

The playmat for Baby Bryson

Burp cloth & diaper holder for the diaper bag

Full shot of the playmat- I used 6 different fabrics, the brown minky fabric as a border & also tried my hand at applique work. Took forever, but now I get it!

In each individual square (they were 8" squares) there were 6 fabrics in 2" strips (I'll show you this technique another day!) which is much easier than it looks! and then each square is sewed together.

Blog Revamp

Artsy Fartsy is just who I am. and since I seem to branch out from just painting, I also love sewing and recycling old furniture pieces. I've finally decided to turn this blog into a craft blog. I'll still showcase my canvases, crosses and painting items here, but there is so much more I can do too! Over the past year I've taken up sewing and it's turning into a sickness. On top of that I plan on including different tutorials of various craft ideas and also to show off recent projects I've been working on. Not just etsy, or gift projects, but my own personal projects!
You can still order items from me just as easily via email. I hope you enjoy this 'blog revamp!'