One room at a time

Finding time to get all my home improvement/decorating projects done has proved to be much more difficult than I thought it would be. We have been here 3 months and aren't even completely unpacked yet! Now that Spring is here I decided to buckle down and get organized so that I can enjoy the fast approaching SUMMER. One thing I have always had trouble with...

Where do I start?

 

So, I made a list. A very long list. And a schedule. One room at a time I am going to turn this house into a home for me and my girls. I'm going to be a little selfish and start in my room... trust me, I deserve it!

 

Start small!

 

One of the smaller projects in my room that is bothering me the most is my ceiling light. When we bought the house it came with one of those giant etched glass plate looking things. Not really my style. So I had my cousin install a mini pendant light. And there it hangs... over my bed... one lone, exposed light bulb... depressing. 


Then I found this pin.

 

 

So, this is actually attempt #2. You don't get to see the first because it is now a heap of wet yarn in the bottom of my trash can. What went wrong? Well, Miss. I'm so Crafty (me) took a quick look at the video and decided that this was just too easy and didn't actually pay attention. I got the wrong supplies! I picked up Aleene's Stiffen Quik and some cheap acrylic yarn from Walmart.

 

What do you need?

100% cotton yarn

2 bottles of Plaid "Stiffy" fabric stiffener

and a ball or balloon

foam brush

scissors

Total cost was around $20

 

 

Before you start I recommend covering your entire work space with a vinyl table cloth. This stuff splatters everywhere. Set up your music before you touch anything else. Your hands are going to be sticky for awhile. Also, this stuff does not smell great. Crack a window or turn on a fan.

 

Let's get this party started!



Put the yarn in a bowl and pour an entire bottle of "Stiffy" over it. Now you want to mush it up like you're making a meatloaf. Make sure all the yarn is saturated.

 

Tie your yarn around the ball snuggly. I put a loop in the end of mine to hang it later. Start haphazardly wrapping your yarn around and around and around...

 

Once you have the coverage you want, find your loop and tie the loose end off. This is where your foam brush comes in. Using the excess stiffener in your bowl, dab extra "Stiffy" goop all around. Make sure the places with the most over-lapping get some special attention.

 

Hang to dry. The bottle says 45 minutes, mine was still wet after 5 hours so I left it hanging overnight. 



 Well, mine is still a bit drippy at the bottom the  next morning, but I am impatient! I put my bowl over the wet part and cut around it for the bulb changing hole. Probably should have waited...

Time for the sacrifice! Seriously, I thought my kids were going to cry when I jammed my scissors   into that ball

 The bottom did not look great so I just made the hole bigger by trimming it up some more. Here are the end results.




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is it exactly what I wanted? No. Do I like it and can I live with it? Sure. Did I make it with my own two hands? Heck yes!

 

 

For those that are less crafty or people who don't want to attempt this horribly messy, time consuming project, I found some AWESOME stuff on Etsy. Check them out!

$35 @ edgeofyonderdesigs via Etsy

 

 

$65 @ filigreecreations via Etsy

 

 

$30 @ cokiethebaby via Etsy

 

 

$75 @ CruelMountain via Etsy

 

 

$139 @ Flowersinlight via Etsy

 

Thanks for popping over! My new light is making my curtains look a little depressing so I am off to pinterest some new ideas for that. And holy purple wall! I have plans for that... Can't wait until next Sunday.