Lemon Drop Life

Currently viewing the category: "DIY"

Reader Dilemma: Ugly Storage Totes

By Dacia On May 17, 2013 · Add Comment

I recently had a reader ask me for some tips on how to to pretty up her plain plastic storage totes. She recently moved and is short on concealed storage space. So what to do when your have no choice but to leave your storage containers out in the open? Well I’ve been doing some research and have come up with a few ideas!

My first thought was to hide them behind a folding screen. If they’re coordinated into the room well, a folding screen can be a really chic touch!

via

Along those same lines, you could use a couple of bookcases to create a hidden storage space.

via

You wouldn’t want to do that in a small space though; it would only make the room feel more cramped!

But those are both ways to hide the containers…what if you want to make the storage containers themselves prettier? I’ve got a solution for that, too!

via

Using some fabric and decoupage medium, you can make those plastic totes fierce! I also love the rope handle detail, it really jazzes things up!

You can also use spray paint specifically designed for plastic to change up the color and help them blend a bit better. Check out this pin I found where someone made theirs look like an old trunk by painting them brown and gluing on an old belt!

via

Pretty neat, huh?

What about you guys? Do you have any clever solutions for making over those drab storage totes? Let me hear ‘em!

DIY Painted Memo Board

By Dacia On May 9, 2013 · 2 Comments

Remember a while back when I told you guys about the little nook I’ve been itching to update? Well I’m getting started! I plan to turn it into a little office/blogging station for myself. And what’s every blogging station need? A memo board, of course!

I started by purchasing a pack of 4 square cork tiles at Michael’s. I brought them home and laid them out on the table.

Then I got to taping. I wanted my stripes to be an inch thick so I laid down my first piece of tape, and then measured and marked and inch below it.

Here’s where I ended up after I was through taping. I decided to add some asymmetrical stripes, too, for some extra pizazz.

Then I got out some white acrylic craft paint and a sponge brush and painted on my stripes.

The cork is naturally absorbent so don’t worry if the texture shows through! After I finished painting, I pulled off the tape (by the way, is there anything more satisfying than pulling off your tape to reveal a crisp, straight line?) and was left with this!

The only thing left to do was to mount it on the wall (they provide sticky backs in the package) and pin a few things up!

Now I can’t wait to whip the rest of this nook into shape!

Does That Really Work?: Sharpie Mug Edition

By Dacia On April 25, 2013 · 4 Comments

It’s time for another installment of “Does That Really Work?” Basically, I put some of those Pinterest urban legends to the test and see if they really hold up! You can see my first go-round here.

So, what am I trying out this time? The ever popular Sharpie mug.

The Claim

You can design your own mug by simply drawing on it with a Sharpie. It makes for an adorable personalized gift!

The Deets

There are about a thousand different pins on Pinterest for this one, but the basics are this: draw on your design, bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, and enjoy! Sounds simple enough, right? But the question is, will it hold up to being hand washed? Even more than that, is it dishwasher safe??

The Experiment

I pulled out a white mug that I picked up at Target last year for $1 (woot!) and a regular ol’ black Sharpie. I drew on an ikat-ish inspired design and let it bake for 30 min at 350 degrees. Then it was time to see how it held up to being washed. I started out by hand-washing it. And I instantly started to see some chinks in the armor.

But I went ahead and put it through the dishwasher as well. I’ll admit, I was expecting it to come out of the dishwasher completely white again, but it held up better than expected. Don’t get me wrong, some of the Sharpie still washed off and I think after a few washes, it would all be gone.

So, I think I’m gonna call this one busted.

But the story doesn’t totally end there. After looking at few other blog posts on the subject, it seems if you use the oil-based Sharpie paint pens, that your design will be permanent AND dishwasher safe!

Another happy ending for this edition of ‘Does That Really Work?’.

{NOTE: This series is totally just for fun and not meant to dispute anything anyone else has done. I’m just sharing MY experience!}

DIY Yarn Wall

By Dacia On April 18, 2013 · 3 Comments

Whoop! I’ve officially completed by first project post-baby and, I must say, it felt awesome! Granted, it took me about 3x longer than it should have since I had to stop for feedings/diaper changes/cuddle time, but that’s beside the point. I’m just happy to be getting back in the swing of things!

When I gave you guys the House Tour (here, here, and here), I mentioned that I wanted to add some personality and fun to our entryway, and what’s more fun than yarn?!? Puppies, maybe, but those are harder to decorate with. This is such a simple update that ti doesn’t even really need a tutorial, but I’ll give you the quick rundown anyway.

All you need is yarn, small nails (you could also use pushpins or even tape), and scissors.

I started off by tying the yarn around the nail.

I snipped off the extra near the top, and then I nailed it into the wall, right up underneath the trim.

After I put the first one in, I decided to go ahead and partially nail in the rest of my nails in a random pattern along the wall. Then I went back and tied yarn on each nail.

In order to secure the yarn at the bottom, I simply used tape. It was much easier than doing nails along the bottom, and since it’s hidden, no one will know! Except for all of you, of course.

This is such an easy (not to mention cheap) wall treatment, and it would be great temporary idea for anyone that’s renting! So, what do you guys think?

Linking up at Home Stories A to Z

Get Frosted

By Dacia On April 1, 2013 · 5 Comments

There hasn’t been much project time around here lately. Who can think about DIY when you’ve got a face like this to look at?

But I did have a chance to complete a little project a couple days before this guy arrived. You see, we also have another child. A fur-baby. And this is one of her favorite activities:

Sitting by our front door, staring out the window. It wouldn’t be such a problem, except for the fact that she barks and growls at anyone/anything she sees outside. Sleeping newborn + barking dog = no bueno. So I set out to correct the issue by simply frosting the window. It was a super simple process; here’s the quick rundown.

I picked up a roll of Glia window film at Lowe’s ($20), along with an application kit ($8). The first step in the process was to make sure the window was squeaky clean.

Swollen pregnant hand. Ugh. And sorry for the poor lighting in these pictures…I haven’t mastered shooting directly into a window yet.

After I had the window sparkling, I took some measurements. My window was 6″ wide and 63″ long. Once you have your measurements, you’ll want to add an extra inch on each side to give you some extra to work with. So, in my case, I cut my film down to 8″x65″.

Once you have your film cut to size, attach a pice of tape to the corner of each side of the film. It will help you peel the backing away from the film.

Then you’ll need to use the application spray that comes with the application kit. You’ll apply it to the window and both sides of your film. It helps to have an extra set of hands for this part: one person to hold the film and another to peel the backing off/apply the application spray.

Then it’s time to press the film onto the window. Because we added the extra 1″ on each side, you don’t have to worry about applying it perfectly; just make sure there’s overlap on each side. And it won’t adhere super well at first, just keep it pressed on the window and it will adhere better during the next step. Don’t worry about air bubbles; we’ll work on those in the next step, too.

Next, you’ll want to take the scraper that’s included in the application kit and smooth out all the air bubbles. You could also use a credit card for this step. Start at the top center and work your way out and down.

After you’ve smoothed everything out, you can take the handy little razor included in the application kit (or an exacto knife, if you don’t have the application kit) and cut off the excess. I will say using the blade that came with the kit was really nice, because it’s made to ensure that you don’t cut off too much. If you’re using an exacto knife or another blade, you might want to use a piece of cardboard a credit card to ensure you don’t cut in too much.

And that’s it! You’re left with a nicely frosted window!

So, I’m sure you’re all dying to know if this has curbed our dog-barking issue. I’m pleased to say that is has! She still barks if someone knocks or rings the doorbell, but it’s definitely an improvement! And an added bonus: I still have plenty of film leftover if I should need to use it again.

Have you guys been doing any simple updates? Got any suggestions for how to get a dog NOT to bark when the doorbell rings? I’m all ears!

Also, hop on over and check out my wonderful sponsor SewMyBliss..I’m totally crushing on this zippered aqua and coral zippered pouch for spring!