Friday, October 29, 2010

SPOOOKY Door Decor!

Our apartment complex is hosting a door decorating contest and out competitiveness came out!

We made crime scene evidence markers out of leftover foam display board.

We made this tombstone out of leftover foam display board also and some silver spray paint. That bird is a hunting dove painted black :)

Evidence 2: Arm caught in door.

The door.

The spirit of the victim.

Evidence 1: the victim.

Evidence 3: A bloody knife!

This is supposed to be like a progression of what the door looks like from top to bottom. 





Wish us luck!!!
Chelsea & Allison

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Functional DIY Jewelry Display

 A few weeks ago, this photo became an inspiration! Our friend Ashton got this idea from another blog and decided to make herself an earring display. It turned out great and was a less than $10 dollar project (way less!).

Decor Roomie Allison wanted to make a jewelry stand out of tree branches… but there aren’t many “good” trees in the apartment complex and what would the neighbors think!

After taking a look at Ashton’s photo, I (Allison) got to digging and recalled that I had a frame hiding under my bookshelf. It was supposed to be for artwork from the Hallmark factory in Kansas City that I got from a service trip excursion. I never got it in the frame the way I wanted/pictured it.  Then I just kept finding stuff to make the Jewelry Board and it took me 15 minutes to do the whole thing!

Here’s how:
- Picture frame (pick your size, Wal-Mart and Target  and DT have good deals)
- Cork Roll
- Cork Squares OR Foam Display board
- Spray Adhesive
- Exacto Knife OR Scissors
- Sewing Pins
- Fabric (Optional)

1)   Remove the glass and backing from the frame.
2)   Depending on what materials you are using…            
a.     Lay out your cork squares and make sure they fit your frame and trim with the exacto knife.
b.     Cut your foam display board to size using the exacto knife.
3)   Generously apply your spray adhesive to the backing of the frame and quickly apply either your cork squares or foam board.
4)   Depending on what materials you are using…
a.     Cut your thin cork roll piece to size using the exacto knife.
b.     Cut your fabric to slightly cover the edges of your backing using scissors.
5)   Generously apply your spray adhesive to the cork or foam on the backing and quickly apply either your cork roll or fabric.
6)   Insert your backing into the frame and secure.
7)   Use sewing pins to hang your necklaces, bracelets, earrings, etc.

Total cost for me :$7 (WAY WAY WAY cheaper than buying one)
Cork Squares: $1.97 on clearance at Joann Fabric
Cork Roll: ~$2 leftover half from another project
Frame: $3 (but FREE really since I got it forever ago!)

This would also work as just a bulletin board, which I am thinking of doing to replace the one I have had for the past 3 years of college. The one that says “I <3 Chelison – Val xoxo NOT Derek” in purple ink that won’t come off :( I even got two frames from work!

This also works well as a present for the holidays! Don’t be surprised if this is what some of you get :)

Yours Bejeweled,
Chelsea & Allison

Linking up to:
Bobbypin's Boardwalk
Creations by Kara





Sunday, October 24, 2010

Our FIRST Feature!!

Hello Friends!

Today, we're being featured over at Mommas Kinda Crafty. We absolutely love reading her blog and are so excited that she has decided to feature us :)

Thank you so much, Joy!

Blog Land Love,
Chelsea & Allison



Thursday, October 21, 2010

Cardboard Box Heaven to Cozy Living Room


Quick explanation for our absence: We're in college and it's midterm time :(

Allison has been dating this wonderful guy for a little over a year and a half now. He lives in an apartment not too far away from me and always begs me to come over. However, I don’t like his apartment. It’s dark and boyish and there used to be no cable TV! His living room was especially horrific!

A few before photos...



Notice the black velvet sofas, coordinating pillows, glittery holiday garland, empty cardboard boxes, lack of decor,  and mismatched curtains (it's hard to tell that they don't match in this photo).

EEEK EEEK EEEK! Chelsea and I convinced him to let us redo his apartment on a budget of course! For about $100 of supplies and a small payment ($15 for each of us) to us for driving and putting it all together…

After the makeover...

We got these as a set at Kirkland's for $9.97! Didn't like the color so we sprayed them ORB.

 Those are DIY candle holders too!
Canvas drop cloth curtains replaced the striped ones that didn't match.
 Allison sewed these pillow covers. Fabric came from Jo-Ann's. Was all on clearance :)
 Curtains to cover up the boxes they refused to part with.
We made our own wall art by taking photos on campus to spell out our school's name.
 Those are silk place mats from Dollar Tree. BAD idea for two guys. They don't look that great anymore :/
 This used to be a mirror. It broke but we kept the frame and turned it into a bulletin board. 

Now that he has a more inviting living room, maybe I’ll come over more and watch cable TV! 

We've missed you,
Chelsea & Allison

We're partying at:
Brambleberry Cottage
House of Hepworth
Katie's Nesting Spot
Life as Lori
Paisley Passions
The Shabby Chic Cottage
Somewhat Simple
Beyond the Picket Fence
Seven Thirty Three
Finding Fabulous
Mommas Kinda Crafty

Friday, October 8, 2010

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROOMIE!!


Happy 21st Birthday to our dear roomie, Valerie! We loooveee you so much!


We decided to dedicate this blog to all things Valerie… because we can and because we made her a few things!

The first thing Val got to see when she came home from the concert (her FAVORITE band was playing – what a gift!) was this “Happy Birthday Val” banner which we’re about to show you how to make. Obviously it doesn’t have to say Val unless you also have a fantastic person in your life named Val, or you like the name, or… ehh we’re all out of “or “scenarios.

4 Pieces of 12” by 12” in scrapbook paper (In coordinating colors or all the same – we used coordinating because it is what we had on hand. This makes 16 flags… calculate for more if your friend has a long name)
            Grosgrain Ribbon (to hang the little flags from)
            Paper Cutter or Scissors (Paper Cutter is highly recommended)
            Paper Clips
            Glue Stick
Pen/Pencil
Letters that spell “Happy Birthday INSERT NAME”(We used Fineliner Script which can be downloaded at DaFont.com in size 150)

1)   Using the ruler on the paper cutter cut each piece of scrapbook paper into 6” by 6” squares leaving you with a total of 4 squares per one piece of scrapbook paper.
6 " Squares
 2)   Using the ruler on the paper cutter make a small mark where the 3” mark is on one side of the square. 

Tiny orange line at the 3" mark.
3)   Line up the top right corner and the 3” inch mark you made where the blade of your paper cutter runs and cut. Follow the same step for the other side.
Corner and orange mark lined up where blade runs.
4)   Keep doing this for all of the flags.

Until they all look like this...
5)   Cut out your letters. We cut ours as squares.

6)   Glue on the letters.


7)   Use the paper clips to attach the flags and create the banner. We used two paper clips per flag.

This is what ours looks like all hung up:

Sorry... this is a WebCam photo :( Camera died...
Val’s present from Allison was this dress to wear to football games! It started off as an XXL t-shirt from Wal-mart. Sorry there aren’t any pictures of the process… it was one of those just go for it activities. The bottom is leftover “lace” from Allison’s mom. If you are looking to do something similar to this there are some great tutorials here: http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/how-tos/category/clothing/dresses/page/1



Thanks for being such a great friend and always keeping us laughing Val! Can’t wait for your party!

Lots of DIY Birthday Love,
Chelsea & Allison

Monday, October 4, 2010

Wine Rack turns "MagaWine Rack"


MagaWine Rack – {noun}, a wine rack turned magazine rack.

(Definition courtesy of Decor Roomies)


I saw this wine rack at my most favoritest Goodwill on Earth! It was a whopping four dollar purchase I just couldn’t pass up.

I thought we’d be able to put it on the counter and store wine bottles, but it just took up way too much space and all the wine disappeared after we had friends over for dinner.

So we stored some of our prettier Better Homes & Gardens and Country Living magazines on our wine rack.

And so the term “MagaWine Rack” was coined. It is very practical and cute to boot!


If you've re-purposed something in a creative way, feel free to share what you did by leaving us a comment :)

Happy Reading,
Chelsea & Allison

We partied at:
Between Naps on the Porch
Cottage Instincts
C.R.A.F.T.
It's So Very Cheri
Making the World Cuter
Skip to my Lou
Super Stinky Boys