Month: November 2016

diy, featured

How to transform a thrift store tray | DIY

Do you know why I dream about going to the thrift store frequently? Actually I wish I could go everyday or maybe every other day. I feel like a kid in the candy store at the thrift store because my “DIY makeover” eyes open as soon as I get there. I’m always so eager to scan the shelves and furniture area of the store to find items that could be easily transformed into useful items, brought back to life with a simple coat of paint, new parts or a quick fix. I once bought a floor lamp without a lampshade and a dent in its base for $12.99. If I had just looked at the item as is I would not have bought it. However, I was able to see beyond that it’s current state. Yes I bought the lamp, wiped it down, fixed the dent on its base and bought a new lampshade from Walmart. Now the lamp looks like new and you would never have guessed that it was a thrift find.

Ok. Enough preaching. Let me get back on topic.

So on a lovely thrift shop day, I snatched a wide wooden tray from Savers. See photo below. Of course It was not love at first sight, but I was able to see beyond the present.

Here it is in its initial state, this poor thing :(.

I spray painted the tray gold and then added contact paper. Walmart is my go-to place for spray paint (it cost about $4 for a can) and you can buy contact paper at shopbobbys.com or at homedepot.com.


So what do you think? Leave a comment:).

xo,

Abi

DIY Home Decor, featured

DIY Serving Tray Makeover

lovingthesimplethings

Do you know why I dream about going to the thrift store frequently? Actually I wish I could go everyday or maybe every other day. I feel like a kid in the candy store at the thrift store because my “DIY makeover” eyes open as soon as I get there. I’m always so eager to scan the shelves and furniture area of the store to find items that could be easily transformed into useful items, brought back to life with a simple coat of paint, new parts or a quick fix. I once bought a floor lamp without a lampshade and a dent in its base for $12.99. If I had just looked at the item as is I would not have bought it. However, I was able to see beyond that it’s current state. Yes I bought the lamp, wiped it down, fixed the dent on its base and bought a new lampshade from Walmart. Now the lamp looks like new and you would never have guessed that it was a thrift find.

Ok. Enough preaching. Let me get back on topic.

So on a lovely thrift shop day, I snatched a wide wooden tray from Savers. See photo below. Of course It was not love at first sight, but I was able to see beyond the present.

Here it is in its initial state, this poor thing :(.

I spray painted the tray gold and then added contact paper. Walmart is my go-to place for spray paint (it cost about $4 for a can) and you can buy contact paper at shopbobbys.com or at homedepot.com.



So what do you think? Leave a comment:).

DIY Home Decor

Get to know Me – 21 Questions

lovingthesimplethings

Happy Sunday! I’ve been itching to make this post for over two weeks but was holding out to take and add some photos. However, I have realized It’ll never be perfect, so here it is!!! Get to know this crafty momma! 

1. What is the meaning of your first name? I go by Abi but my name is actually Abisola, a Nigerian (Yoruba name) and it means “born at a time of abundance”.
2.   What was favorite subject(s) at school? Science, Math and Art; the reason I decided to major in Chemistry in undergrad.

3. What is your favorite drink? I don’t really have a favorite drink but I like hot beverages in the cold months – flavored green tea and hot chocolate. Right I’m halfway through a 50 pack Mango Honey Green Tea tin I bought from TJ Maxx.

4. What is your favorite song at the moment? My favorite song at this moment is King of the World by Natalie Grant. 

5.What is your favorite food? I am a picky eater in that I like a variety of foods, unlike my husband who does not mind eating the same thing over and over again. I try to cook a variety of dishes (American and Nigerian) weekly. Right now, I’m looking forward to cooking one of my kids’ favorite – Mixed Veggies Tuna Mac n Cheese.

6. What is the last thing you bought? The last thing I bought is not a thing but a bunch of things for jewelry making. I bought some beads and jewelry findings for a custom order necklace. Click here to view my collection of handmade jewelry.

7. Favorite book of all time? This is such a difficult question. I love to read and I just can’t award any one book my favorite of all time. I recently finished reading Joyce Meyer’s “Overload”, and bought 3 more of her books during the last week.


8. Favorite Color? Purple. Go Baltimore Ravens!!!

9. Do you have any pets? No. My kids are asking for a fish. I’m currently in the “thinking about it” phase of granting their wish.

10. Favorite Holiday? Any holiday that call for decorations.

11. Are you married? Yes. Been married for almost 9 years. Anniversary coming up soon! Yay!

12. How many siblings do you have? I have 3 siblings – two brothers and one sister. I’m the youngest.

13. What is your favorite shop? I love all the craft stores – A.C. Moore, Michaels and Joann Fabrics

14. Favorite restaurant? Green Turtle

15. When was the last time you cried? About 2 weeks ago. When I dropped my 6 year old off at school and didn’t have to escort him inside the school building/to his classroom. He was very excited and I thought to myself, OMG, He’s getting older! Tears drop from eyes..

16. Favorite Blog? I’m a lover of all DIY, Home décor, and craft blogs.

17. Favorite Movie? Mother’s Day. I love comedy/drama movies because I love to laugh and be entertained and. Life is too short to watch serious, suspense and scary movies. Although I watch them occasionally when hubby really wants to.


18. Favorite TV shows? Big Bang Theory, Family Feud and anything on HGTV and DIY network. 

19. PC or Mac? PC

20. How tall are you? 5’5″

21. Can you cook? Yes. I like to try new recipes and bake as well.

Can you relate? Please share. Would love to make blog friends! 

diy, featured

DIY Rustic Wood Crate Sign

lovingthesimplethings

Is anybody else as crazy about wood signs as much as I am? Wood signs make lovely gifts and the best thing about them is that they can be customized.  A name, symbol, letter, quote, phrase, etc, can be handwritten on any wood surface. After seeing so many ideas for wood signs on Pinterest, I was bent on making one or several of my own.

After researching several wood signage techniques, I found out that the easiest was the one that involved tracing. Yep! You heard me read that right! I got to use that good old pre-kindergarten tracing technique that I learn decades ago. img_7042-1

To begin this project, you will need:

  • A computer with printing capabilities
  • Printing paper
  • Pencil
  • Wood template/sign – I used a wood crate.
  • Craft paint
  • Paint Brush

Here are the quick easy steps I followed:

  • Chose the word or phrase you plan to make a sign of
  • Type your chosen word in the font of your choice using Microsoft Word.
  • Print
  • Shade the back of the printed sheet with a pencil (to make a diy carbon paper)
  • Tape the paper to the surface of the wood
  • Trace the words on to the wood with a pencil
  • Paint your little heart away! In other words, paint in the letters or word(s) with your paint brush. Use 2 -4 coats to your satisfaction. 

This was by far an easy project but it might take between 1 – 3 hours to complete because you will need to wait in between paint coats to avoid smearing.

Keep in mind:

  •  If you paint outside of the letters, use a clean wet paint brush to wipe the excess right away.
  • Use several small tip brushes (size 000 – 1)
  • I’m in the process of adding “sweet home” to the bottom of Home. Updated photos coming soon.

Do come back soon!

xoxo,

Abi

DIY Projects, Storage Solutions

Make this Simple DIY Jewelry Dish

lovingthesimplethings

This post is dedicated to all jewelry lovers. Especially those who have so much jewelry that it’s difficult to keep track and organized. And let’s not talk about loosing pieces because you don’t have a specific place to store them.

One way to solve these problems is to have a jewelry dish or multiple dishes for your rings and dainty earrings that can be easily misplaced. And you won’t believe how easy it is to make one.

To make a jewelry dish you’ll need:

1) Find a wide mouth shallow dish or buy one at your local dollar store.

I bought this dish at my local Dollar Tree for $1.00

2) Spray paint it your favorite color.

img_6270

This is the yellow jewelry dish I made to place on my nightstand. The bottom one is for my dresser.


So what are you waiting for?

Make a jewelry dish now. It’ll make a nice gift from you to yourself!