Monday, March 31, 2014

DIY Greek Key Tray Makeover (Ikea Hack)

 
For the last year I have had a large tray sitting on my dresser just looking awfully plain. I picked it up at Ikea for $7 on a whim.  Of course I did...most of my Ikea purchases are on a whim.

Since then I have been debating about what to do with the tray. I couldn't just keep her white, could I? No, of course not.




I had some gold metallic spray paint in the garage that caught my eye recently and then my plan started to fall into place. Originally, I was going to make a striped design on the tray with the painters tape and then I had an 'ah ha moment'...I would try my hand at a greek key design. 

If you follow 2IY on Instagram, you know I found making the design to be harder than it looks.  I received some samples of 3M Scotch Blue Painters Tape so along with a ruler, and some patience this project goes pretty smoothly.



I used a roll of  .94" Scotch Blue Painter's Tape to create the design.


I started along the long edge with just a straight piece of tape.   I created the first key by just eyeballing the size and length of the tape.  On the remaining three sides and corners I used a ruler to measure the original key's tape pieces to make sure they were all the same.


Cutting the edge of the tape straight is important or you will get some overhang which will of course show up when you spray paint the tray.  I used an exacto knife to trim those little areas after I was all done taping off the tray.


Right before I spray painted I went around the entire design and pressed down all the edges of the tape really well to prevent any paint bleed.


Then I just spray painted the entire tray.  After the first coat dried, I added a second.  Only after both coats were completely dry did I remove the tape.


And now the moment of truth....


I had very few areas of bleed.  In those area I just scraped the paint off easily with a knife.  I love the way the tray looks on my coffee table.  It really pops against the black table.



Disclaimer: I received samples of 3M Scotch Blue Painters Tape but all opinions are my own. 

Thanks for stopping by 2IY! If you like what you see, we'd love for you to pin it!


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Sunday, March 30, 2014

Link It or Lump It Link Party #32 {Plus Features}

Welcome to the 32nd Link It or Lump It Link Party!  Wowzers! Every week there is major talent and creativeness shared at the LIOLI link party, but this week I literally can't pick just four features. I currently have about 11 tabs open on my browser trying to decide what are my favorites.  So this week I'm breaking my own rules..there will be mroe than four features - and of course my three co-hosts Allison from Dream A Little Bigger, Amy from Delineate Your Dwelling and Sonnet from SoHo Sonnet have their features too.
But before we get to them, here's a quick look at what we've been up to around 2IY lately.

Friday, March 28, 2014

7 Amazing Paint Makeovers


Last week's Link It or Lump It Link Party was stocked full of amazing projects.  Since I'm a sucker for paint and painted furniture...and since I majorly have the itch to paint something but this weather is holding me back...I thought I'd round up a few of my favorite paint projects from the link party.  I'm telling you these seven are some amazing makeovers with paint! 

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Construction & Work Zone Birthday Party Ideas

My little man is counting down the minutes until his third birthday. It's not for two months.  That must feel like a lifetime for a two year old.  He's been counting for months and months and months.  He's essentially been counting since his second birthday....which is where we're going to take a trip down memory lane to because way back then I wasn't such a great blogger.  Two It Yourself was just getting off the ground and I never thought to share all the amazing (I'm bias, yes) work zone party ideas I came up with for his party.

I spent weeks prepping for this party - everything from making each guest a Home Depot-style apron to ordering plastic construction hats and caution tape to figuring out the perfect construction birthday cake.  I have links to the majority of the tutorials so just click 'em as you see 'em!

Usually favors are handed out at the end of the party, but we did it a little bit differently.  Each guest joined Blake's Work Crew as they arrive -- with a construction hat and personalized tool belt.  I ordered the construction hats on Amazon and they can be found here.

I had left over drop cloth material from my upholstered headboard project so I made each of the 25 guests (What was I thinking with 25 1-5 year olds???) a tool belt complete with a personal Home Depot-inspired logo.  Aren't they just adorable!!

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Wood Chair Makeover with Spray Paint (Before & After)

A few months back I was driving down the road and I see this guy putting a bunch of 'stuff' out by the curb with a big sign that said 'FREE!'  The luck!


I quickly pulled over and snagged this wood chair.  The chair - just as it was when I threw it in my trunk - sat on my front porch all winter.  that is until I took some spray paint and vinyl to it!  To read the full post including seeing the 'after' head over to my sister site Silhouette School.




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Monday, March 24, 2014

Door Mat Wall Art: Pottery Barn Knockoff

My Pottery Barn knockoffs are starting to take on a life of their own here at Two It Yourself.  This week I felt like maybe I should spread the love - so I did a guest blog post over at the amazing Fun Cheap or Free!

Do not judge - I totally hung a rubber door mat on the wall and called it a Pottery Barn knockoff.  I think that qualifies as fun and cheap...and almost free! Oh, and the best part, my husband has yet to realize it's a door mat's adorning our foyer. 

Head on over to FCF to check out my tips and tricks on what is now one of my favorite Pottery Barn knockoffs. 

While you're there, poke around a bit. I know you'll find some awesome stuff 'where frugal gets a facelift.'

Thanks for stopping by 2IY! If you like what you see, we'd love for you to pin it!


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Sunday, March 23, 2014

Link It Or Lump It Link Party #31 {Plus Features}

Welcome to the 31st Link It or Lump It Link Party!  All I have to say is TGIS...no, not Sunday...SPRING! Yes, winter here in Delaware was brutal as it was many places along Mid-Atlatnic and Northeast.  I am totally thinking spring and in case you missed it, here's some of what we've been up to around 2IY lately.

 
   
Alright, moving on to some features...

Friday, March 21, 2014

Spring Coffee Table Vignette

If you follow me on Instagram you got a little sneak peek of this 'project' earlier this week.  It's not even really a project as much as it is an experiment.  I'm experimenting to see - for the first time in five years - if I can successfully keep coffee table decor in tact for more than five minutes.   My kiddos have kept hands-off so far and we're working on day four here!

Every time I flip through Pottery Barn or West Elm or Ballards I notice how nice their coffee tables look. I wanted something to add a little pop to my living room and this did the trick.  I gathered some items I already had pulling from various rooms, holiday decorations, storage boxes, and the bookshelf. 

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Pottery Barn Knockoff Happy Easter Burlap Flag

In case you haven't noticed I might be a little obsessed with Pottery Barn.  Aside from a rare splurge, however, I pretty much stick to clearance items...oh, and items I can knockoff.  Like say...this Happy Easter flag.  I saved myself a cool $39 bucks here and it only took me an hour or so to make this large flag.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Paint Sample Easter Egg Wreath (Kid-Friendly)


If you can't find the paint sample cards at your local hardware store, don't blame me..the Easter Bunny made me do it!   Isn't this little Easter Egg Wreath just too cute?  On a side note..do not send bad vibes my way for posting Easter crafts too early...I do it for you, I tell you, I do it for you.  I want you to have time to be creative and enjoy your crafts before it's onto the next holiday/season.

It's a fun and easy activity for kids as young as preschool.  All you need are some paint sample cards, a paper plate (or card board), glue, and ribbon.  If you have an oval paper cutter that makes it easier, but if not you can just use scissors.

Monday, March 17, 2014

DIY Front Door Spring Wreath


Another season, another wreath makeover here at Two It Yourself.  If you haven't caught on by now, I prefer to shop my home over the store and last week I went shopping.   Last week's hoist included this spring wreath.  It's seen better days on my front door, but I wasn't ready to completely let her go so I gave her a makeover.  The wreath is now hardly recognizable, but the job was a pretty easy one.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Link It or Lump It Link Party #30 {Plus Features}

Welcome to the 30th Link It or Lump It Link Party!  First up lets get to some bloggy business. Did you know that tomorrow could seriously be your lucky day - even if you're not an ounce Irish?! It's the LAST DAY TO ENTER to win a Mohawk Rug in our blog giveaway! You really don't want to miss this, so enter here NOW!   The winner will be announced on the blog and on our Facebook page on Tuesday. 

http://www.twoityourself.com/2014/02/my-new-mohawk-home-rug-and-150-rug.html#more
Alright, moving on to some features...

Friday, March 14, 2014

Faux Terrarium in a Yankee Candle Jar

I'm so excited...I found another use for my empty Yankee Candle jars!  Nothing like a pretty FREE glass jar...and some dollar store supplies.

I am working on spring-ifying (yup, so went there) our house and this little guy was among my first projects.  I am calling it a faux terrarium because I don't know what else to call it and basically because 'paper flower with moss in a dollar store mini clay pot in a glass jar' is too long.

I am new to terrariums, but I'm liking them.  If you're not familiar, according to Dictionary.com a terrarium is "a glass container, chiefly or wholly enclosed, for growing and displaying plants." In other words I think I'm justified in calling this a faux terrarium.  No?

Okay onwards my friends.  I started by putting some filler (aka balled up tissues) in the bottom of my mini pots.  These mini terracotta pots come in a three pack at Dollar Tree. Can't beat .33 a piece! 

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Framed Burlap and Paper Flower Spring Sign

A few weeks back I shared a fun Pottery Barn knockoff using some picture frame mats.  I've finally gotten around to using the actual frames.  This is a really easy project and I love what it does for my mantel as we head into spring.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

How to Make New Wood Look Old

Earlier this week I shared a 15 minute DIY towel hook.   Now I can let you in on my little secret....about 14 minutes of that project was spent getting the new wood to actually look old and distressed. 

The scrap wood I used to hang the hooks on wasn't actually 'new' wood from the lumber yard.  It was wood I had in the garage, but it looked relatively new aside from a few splotches of paint.   The surface was smooth, there were no splinters or dings or nail holes.  I didn't want the wood to look this new though, I wanted it to look old, worn, distressed, loved...

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

7 {Amazing} DIY Pillows

If you stopped by last week's Link It or Lump It link party you may have noticed couldn't miss all the amazing projects...among them were a bunch of really awesome DIY pillows.  I am a huge pillow fan (and actually sell a bunch in my Etsy Shop) so I thought it would be fun to do a quick roundup of all the great DIY pillows that were shared last week at the link party.

Be sure to click through on your favorites to read the full tutorial! 

Michelle Lea Designs gives a wonderful step-by-step tutorial on making these fun pillows for the perfect pop.  

http://michelleleadesigns.blogspot.com/2014/03/pillow-making-tutorial-easy-fast.html

I absolutely adore this precious pillow made by Maddie Moes.  How sweet is that?! And I love the personalization!

http://www.maddiemoes.com/2014/02/diy-cushion-and-giveaway.html

Seasoned Homemaker shared her lovely DIY throw pillows...along with a great tutorial on how to add pipping. That little detail really gives these pillows the professional look! 

http://www.seasonedhomemaker.com/2014/02/diy-throw-pillows.html
Are you ready for some awesomeness? Look what Muslin and Merlot did with an old zip up hoody? How stinkin' genius is that?  Very impressive!

http://muslinandmerlot.blogspot.com/2014/02/upcycle-old-hoodies-into-pillows.html

Chantilly Charm shared this beautiful bunny pillow.  That tail!!! 

http://chantillycharm.blogspot.com/2014/03/diy-bunny-pillow.html


The Swafty Blog linked up this DIY pillow tutorial...where the supply list includes mod podge, tape and paint! Awesome.

http://thecwaftyblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/tutorial-tuesday-glittered-throw-pillow.html

Keeping up with the animal theme we have going here...Alicia Never Sleeps created this really cute DIY Graphic Lamb Pillow.  It's perfect for spring.

http://alicianeversleeps.blogspot.com/2014/03/diy-graphic-lamb-pillow.html

Thanks for stopping by 2IY! If you like what you see, we'd love for you to pin it!


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