Thrifty Attempts # 2: Table Runner Art

So a project I did this week, because, well what else is there to do when you have a full week off of school because of SNOW, is a simple art piece for our small hallway. The materials included: a table runner (bought in exchange for a sweater from Christmas that didn't fit at Coldwater Creek... so in my mind it was free!), a TV box (free), a curtain ($7 at Ross), a staple gun and some craft glue. Yes, this only cost me $7!

Again, I got the inspiration from the Thrifty Decor Chick.

We have this switch box in our hallway that is so gray and ugly! We've been trying to find the perfect piece to cover it up, without covering up the light switch. 

Ok, so I am HORRIBLE about taking pics along the way. This is the pile of things near the end of the project.

I'll try to explain what I did...

First, off, the table runner I got from Coldwater Creek wasn't quite wide enough to cover the gray box.

So, I had to figure out something else to go behind it or around it. I thought about making a frame for it, but when I went to Michael's, it was going to take a lot of time, cost more than I wanted, etc. etc. 

Since I became a pro at stapling fabric during my last project, I decided I would cut a piece of cardboard (how perfect it is that we had a new TV box we needed to get rid of!) , and then staple some fabric around it. This would serve as a background/border to the table runner. 

So, after cutting out the cardboard and then stapling the brown fabric around it, we mounted the table runner by using the staple gun. You can't tell by just glancing that we used a bazillion staples to secure it to the brown border. 

Yes, my mom rocks and helped me with this project, too! Then we used some craft glue along the edges to make sure it stayed. 

We let it dry for a couple minutes, and then hung it up! 

I think it's the perfect piece for that hallway!

Close up! I LOVE this table runner! The wooden pieces are so cool and rustic. 

 

Before...

After!

Thrifty Attempts # 1: DIY Headboard

So since we've gotten married and had our own place to decorate, I've kind of gotten into home decor and I follow a few blogs that like to do the same... under budget! In the past I wouldn't have considered myself a "thrifty" person, but it's becoming a game to see just how cheap I can make/buy something that looks just as nice as something you'd see in a store. Just last night I was bragging about a new lamp project I'm working on that cost me $7 (and the lamp shade came from Pottery Barn!)

Here is the first big DIY project. It ended up costing about $60... and that's with having to buy a staple gun.. a one time purchase.

DIY Headboard:

Our new condo has a 2nd bedroom :), but we didn't have a headboard for our bed. I knew we didn't want to make a huge investment in that room, so I found some blogs about making a headboard DIY! I used these blogs.. they rock! Thrifty Decor Chick and Centsational Girl.

I made this with my mom one day over Fall Break! It took us a good part of the day, but we had a blast and I LOVE the results!

I bought this piece of plywood at Home Depot for $6. I just got the cheapest one they had since it's not necessary for it to be sturdy. 

First we measured out where we wanted the buttons to go... I wanted a tufted look. I think we measured them about 10-12 in apart and about 15 in from the edges.

Oh yeah.. bring on the power tools! We then drilled a hole for each button which we'd use to sew the buttons on.

I felt SO cool using a power drill!

My mom rocks! I definitely couldn't have done this without her expertise!

Next, we used spray adhesive to coat the board.

Then we applied the foam (egg crate bedding) to that. I read in one of the blogs that egg crate bedding is much cheaper than the foam they sell at craft stores. It looks funny here, but it looks great in the end.

We stopped taking some pics, but after we put the foam on, we had to cut it to fit the board. Next, we took an old sheet, and used a staple gun to attach it to the plywood. This secures the foam and provides a smooth surface for the final layer of fabric.

Phase one complete!

  

After this, we took the board upstairs and stapled the fabric to it, just like we did with the sheet. I got the fabric at Hobby Lobby. It's a natural linen-like fabric. 

Next, we used a button covering kit and some extra fabric, to make buttons for the board.

I love how they turned out!

The next step was to sew the buttons on! This ended up being the hardest thing because it was hard to find the hole through all the foam! 

Luckily, Mom and Stephen were better at it than I was!

Yay, we got them!

... and here it is! Our finished headboard! 

I LOVE it!

Before...

After!

I love the natural color. It blends perfectly with the bedding and walls.

 Thanks, Mom, for the help!