Before and After {Our Apartment}

So after 5 months of being in our apartment we are almost done moving in. Hip Hip Hooray! There are still a few things we want to do or buy, but those things can wait.

We did manage to take a few last minute "before" pictures; however, they were with Pat's camera phone and are a bit blurry. But I am SO glad that he took them because it is so fun to see the progress.

Living Room/Dinning Room Before

Living Room/Dinning Room After

Bedroom Before

Bedroom After

Entry Way/Kitchen Before

Entry Way/Kitchen After

Dinning Room/Living Room Before

Dinning Room/Living Room After and Pat's Video Game



Bedroom Before



Bedroom/Ferret Mansion After


Entry Way Before

Entry Way After



Living Room Before

Living Room After

Our place is small (about 450-500 sq/ft) and old but we love it. We feel so lucky to have found it and to be able to make it our home.

Before and After {Our "New" Dresser}

Before

Pat works right next door to a thrift store that has amazing turn over and merchandise. During his lunch breaks he takes a peak and on this particular visit he found this dresser. We loved it and I could see it in bright yellow...

After

I was going to do more with the paint, but after seeing it with it's hardware I decided to keep it simple.

Before and After {desk clock}

I found this clock at Savers for $2. I liked the shape and had been looking for a desk clock for a out living room, yet the little flowers and blah white color was not doing it for me.

As you may have noticed, I am totally addicted to spray paint. I think it can make anything look cool. Like this clock!

With a little blue spray paint the clock became vintage, yet modern. So cool. However, I need to learn to be more patient. I hate waiting for the paint to dry so there are some major smudges and bubbles. But I learned my lesson for next time.

Before and After: Push-Pin Board

Not a very attractive picture frame right? Well, when I saw it on sale at D.I. for $2 I knew it had potential. Even though I didn't know at the time what I would do with such a large frame, I knew it would be beautiful someday.

Well, it all came together when Pat was watching the BYU football game. I hate watching football so I put myself to work. I decided to make a push-pin board (like a cork-board with out the cork) to put photos and miscellaneous stuff on.

A very simple project which requires:

1. Empty picture frame
2. Foam board (found at any craft/art store. I found mine at D.I. for $1)
3. Fabric (I found a pillow case at D.I. for $1)
4. Spray Paint
5. Hot glue
6. Staple Gun




The Process:

Spray paint frame. Cut foam board to fit inside frame nicely. Glue fabric tightly around foam board. Put fabric covered board inside frame and stapled to stay put.

And once again, as easy as that, it was done!

I have used this process before on smaller frames to hang my necklaces and earings on.

Before and After: Clock

This morning I was sitting in my office wondering what I was going to do for the rest of the day. I saw my broken clock hanging on the wall, which I had been thinking was in need of a face lift.

I bought this clock on clearance at Kmart a while ago. It has broken since and was staying together with duct tape. I almost sold it at our recent yard sale but resisted with the intention of fixing it up.

I didn't want to spend any money, or go to the store, so I found the materials around the house: a bed sheet I bought at D.I. a while back, left over spray paint, Modge Podge, and cardboard.

The Process:
1. I cut out a piece of cardboard which would easily fit on top of the old clock face
2. Modge Podged the flower fabric onto the card board
3. Spray painted the circular frame
4. Place the now fabric cardboard piece in the clock, screwed the clock pieces in
5. Admired my zero-cash new clock on my wall

Before and After: Chair

So, I am jobless. This leaves me with a lot of free time. However, you think with all this free time on my hands I would be pulling out my hair (as I have not had a job since April), but sadly enough for my husband Pat, I never really get bored. I always have a project on the horizon. This was my latest project.

I bought this chair a while back at D.I. because:

A. I needed a chair
B. It was cheap
C. I thought it had potential

This was a super fast and easy project. I simply unscrewed the cushions of the seat, tore off the sick, brown ,vinyl covering, spray painted the frame, and stapled on new fabric! It was tons easier than I anticipated and only took me a few hours. Now I am ready for a more difficult challenge—I am addicted.

p.s. NEVER PAY FULL PRICE! For all my supplies I bought (staple gun, fabric, and spray paint) where I used a 40% off coupon at Joanns Fabric and Roberts Craft that you print off online. You can only use it for one item so I had Pat purchase one item and then I went back get the other item.