DIY Paint Swatch Art

I blogged a few months ago about a little DIY project that I thought was cool so I busted out my colt 45 and got busy. Here are the step-by-step instructions if you are feeling a little frisky this Monday.

1. Have an empty frame laying around somewhere. Preferably under a bed, a little warped from water damage and purchased from Ikea in 2001.

2. Have a glue gun. If you read design blogs than my guess is you have one. The tough part is locating the bag of glue sticks.

3. Go to your local hardware store and pretend that you are painting the Taj Majal but really just take (steal) about 40 paint chips. I used Behr because they were so big and I started to feel that I would be taken to Home Depot prison for taking so many swatches if I didn't hurry up and get the heck out of dodge.

4. Start gluing those bad boys right to the backer board of the frame- unless of course you want to reuse it at some point.

5. Hang and gloat to your husband that this cost you zero dollars and it's actually kinda cool. I got a lot of eye ball rolling during this but I think he likes it now. Good, no?

Mason Jar Chandelier

Isn't this Mason Jar Chandelier by BootsNGus so sweet? I think an easy do-it-yourself OR you can just buy them for a really reasonable price and not guilt yourself to death. I mean, is it possible to make your own pasta? Yes. Can you buy a month's worth of groceries for $7.28? Yes. But guess what- you have more important things to do like watch Oprah and feed your kids lunch (you know the one that cost $7.28)!

Paint Swatch Art

There's no reason you shouldn't try this little paint swatch project, 75% of the materials can be straight up stolen from your local hardware store without you being thrown in the clink. That was my best attempt at prison lingo right there people. Go kick rocks if ya didn't like it!

P.S. I cannot remember where I stumbled across this pic. If anyone knows, I'd love to give credit!

DIY Headboard

My sister-in-law Lindsay and I are on the hunt for DIY headboard inspiration and this just really makes me smile! Dana over at House*Tweaking shows step-by-step how she made (and hung) this sweet headboard. In fact, I'm a little obsessed with her blog right now because she has so many awesome projects and I secretly, ok, not so secretly want to be more crafty. Really I'd just like to be rich so I can have things made for me but it doesn't seem like that is going to be my lot in life so craftiness it is!

DIY Kids Art

I don't do this very often but indulge me here folks. My kids are awesome! My husband thinks our boys are going to grow up and be on the PGA tour but secretly I know deep down in my bones they will be artists, chefs and possibly an NFL linebacker (for those of you who know my kiddos, you know to whom I refer). The art above was made for Grandma Strodl this Christmas and she had the good sense to have it framed. Stunning, yes? Anyhow, I bought a six pack of canvases from Michael's and the cheapo acrylic paint and let them have at it. The younger they are the better artwork I've found. My four year old tries too hard to make realistic looking yoda's and star troopers but my two year old's I feel I could pass off as the real deal in a gallery. Moral of the story, you can get a fabulous piece of artwork for cheap that will have far more sentimental value than anything you can buy. I highly suggest it. The bragging rights are priceless.