Today's Pinterest Project: DIY Cornice Boards!

So today my friend Ashleigh & I tackled a Pinterest DIY project! I have been wanting to make my own cornice boards for the living room window(s) for a while now and knew of the perfect fabric I wanted to use at Hobby Lobby.

FYI: In case you didn't know, Hobby Lobby is a Christian company {which I love!} and they offer *about* everything in the store 50% off every other week. So if you go in there & fall in love with something, come back next week & you can get it for 50% off! If you absolutely have to have something and it's not on sale that week, you can go to Hobby Lobby's website on your smartphone & show the cashier a 40% off {one non-sale item} coupon on your phone off their website {or print one off before you get there.} They always have one on their website & it's bound to help you on something. :)

I looked on Pinterest to find a tutorial on how to make my own cornice boards. I first found this one, which is great and practically the same thing my friends Becky & Randall did for their DIY cornice boards. The only difference was that they bought the wood at Lowe's {or wherever} and had them cut it in the correct dimensions there so no power tools were needed, except a drill to screw the brackets into the wall.

I was convinced "there was an easier/cheaper way" so I kept perusing on Pinterest and found this. I already had a hot glue gun, hammer, nails were only $1.30 at Lowe's {I got the tiniest "trim nails" I could find-- they come in different sizes}, & my fabric was 40% off at Hobby Lobby thanks to my trusty coupon!

I couldn't find the exact Styrofoam she used since I was at Lowe's and not Home Depot but they had something similar back where their lumber is. It was a huge piece!! The man at Lowe's cut it in two & I could barely fit it in the back of my SUV!

I tried to follow the directions to a T but had a couple "issues."

First, I have a double window instead of a single. I was afraid the inside would sink in so I had to put something in the middle to push against the middle window frame. I basically just made a frame/board like she did, and attached another top piece to the other side of one end and another end piece to that piece. {Gah, I'm sorry. I know that makes little to no sense.}

I also didn't think to cover the back as well as the front. This window is one that's in the front of our house and you can totally see the {currently} non-finished back when the blinds are open, and they usually stay open. So if you're going to do this, do back *and* the front!

We also didn't use a butter knife. Heck a butcher knife was difficult when you stood the thing up & tried to cut "down." The best way to cut the board is to lay it on the  ground, cut straight pieces one at a time {the slow but sure way} and when you're done, stand it up and fold the foam so it'll snap apart. One side will be crooked as all get out, but the other edge will be surprisingly super straight!

You can read the directions on the site yourself if you're super interested in how to do this project. But for now, I will leave you with an "after picture" of today's Pinterest project! I think Ashleigh & I did a GREAT job!! So what if it's not perfect? I love it!! {Just gotta fix the back...}

I figure this will be WAY easier with a single window and can't wait to try it in another room now that I think I've got the hang of it and some of the kinks worked out! 

I am just so tickled with it. I love me some DIY. I love me some chevron. And I love me some new home decor!! Especially cheap DIY chevron home decor! :)

Next I'll show you how we chevron'd my friend's wall in her future baby girl's nursery last weekend!! Now THAT was interesting... Stay tuned!!

♥,

Nicole

 

Bathroom Inspiration

I'm not even going to throw you a "before" picture of the hallway bathroom, it's that bad right now!

Just know that this picture is my inspiration:

kind of...

I want to paint the walls a light gray color with white cabinets & cabinet top, and either a silver or white framed mirror. I need to head to Home Goods! Mirrors are expensive! Then have white & silver decor in there...I think that'd be pretty, and bright {despite the color gray}!

I've been looking at shower curtains online...again, for something not too girly, not too butch...

Fieldcrest® Luxury White Metallic Printed Fretwork Shower Curtain

$24.99 $17.48 at Target

Ruffles Shower Curtain

$31.99 $25.59 at Target

The ruffles aren't too girly, right?? :-)

Decisions, decisions!

So...I have been a bad blogger! There has been SO many updates on the house and I have not blogged one of them! I am getting a little overwhelmed with all the progress pictures I have been taking. There's just so much progress! ;) Anyways...here's a sneak peek until I can figure out how to blog the rest of it! {To my Facebook friends, it's nothing you haven't seen already.} 

Here's a picture of the master bedroom after it was painted green:

 

Please notice the paint color ONLY! :) The floors have yet to be put down to say the least about the current condition of the room. I do love the new blinds though!

Well, so, we're not married to the ceiling fan but it's not a purchase that needs to be made right away. But I DO have a BIG decision to make:

black vs. brown 

Seriously, decisions shouldn't be this hard!

I have a ton of black home decor & most of the house will match brown...so I feel like my home decor stuff needs to be put to use, and some of it's nice stuff, so, at least one room needs to have black stuff in it! Why not the master bedroom?? I have a really big painting from Ross that would go perfect in there, only part of it's black...which is another deciding-factor in my decision-making process. I digress....

I went to Kirkland's today & bought 2 mirrors that could potentially go in the 1/2 bath that's attached to the master bedroom. Guess what colors they were....yep, one brown, one black! I bought them both since they were a STEAL at $30! {Seriously you can't find bigger mirrors at that price anywhere!} I have 60 days to make my decision {& hold onto my receipt!}, so I better get on it! Because watch this be a 60-day decision! 

It's also really hard to find decent  bedding that will match this green too. Something that's not TOO girly but something that's not totally butch either...and with the help of my dear friend, Tori, I have narrowed my choices down to two bedding sets...

Home Creeping Floral Comforter Set - Green (Queen)

$79.99 at Target - Comforter, Bed Skirt, & 2 Pillow Shams

DwellStudio® for Target® Marrakesh Comforter Set - Full/Queen

$79.99 $67.99 at Target - Comforter & 2 Shams

Both would look really good with the green & goes well with the white trim in the room! I can't really tell if one's more girly than the other, but the top one obviously is the best buy, even though it's more expensive, because it comes with the bed skirt as well.

Ah...decisions, decisions! 

So long sweet holiday season...

It was a sad day in my apartment. I began taking my Christmas decorations down. I realized I forgot to post pics of my little Christmas decorations. There's only so much you can do in a dorm apartment! Oh but don't you worry, I racked up on clearance Christmas decorations so wherever I place my head next Christmas will be decked out for sure!! Until then...I will remember the scent of my Balsam & Cedarwood Christmas candle & these sweet little mementos :) I also will introduce you to my budget-friendly buys from the past! You know I don't buy anything unless it's on sale!

Kitchen table & chairs - $30 at Goodwill

$1 ceramic carolers & $1 glittered Christmas tree at The Dollar Tree

Red napkins found at Wal-Mart & red charger found at Goodwill for $3. The rest is my usual plate set with a yellow napkin.

Rite-Aid Christmas Clearance last year

My 1st ever (& only!) REAL Christmas tree. It was a baby tree! $17 at Wal-Mart, complete with tree stand and bowl. Lights & Santa hat also at Wally World!

Loved my "Abercrombie" Christmas lights!

^"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.'" -Luke 2:10-11 {Plate found at the Southern Home Christmas Show!}

Rite-Aid Christmas Clearance light-up houses & trees

Lifeway Christian Bookstore Christmas Clearance for the PEACE decor & RB Cronland's in Lincolnton's Christmas Clearance for the pearl garland

Dollar Store

Charlie Brown Christmas Tree found for $7 at Ollie's!

$1 at the Dollar Tree

Rite-Aid Christmas Clearance

Lifeway Christian Bookstore Christmas Clearance

cute little ceramic nativity scene for $1 at the Dollar Tree

I can't wait to share with you next year what all fabulous finds I found this year!

Until then, there's only 348 days until next Christmas! ;) Until then, have a blessed 2011!

It's Fall Y'all!

If you have been around me long enough lately, you have heard me say that Fall is my FAVORITE time of the year! There's something so peaceful and romantic even about beautiful colorful leaves, cooler air, and cute boots & scarves! Not to mention what mine & Alex's Friday nights have consisted of....high school football! His cousin, Matthew, plays for North Lincoln, and my cousin, Nick, plays for Lincolnton {where Alex & I went to high school}. Poor North Lincoln is having a bad year, but our Lincolnton Wolves are undefeated right now! Hoping to watch Nick and the Wolves go all the way to State! :) My grandmother bought this cute Lincolnton Wolves garden flag from a lady in town...I LOVE it! Makes me feel home sweet home!

There aren't any big Lincolnton Wolves flags, so Mawmaw is taking it upon her self {with the help of the fabulous Hilda} to make her own! She had Pawpaw DRAW the wolf, then bought the fabric, and then Hilda is making the rest happen with her mad sewing skills! I can't wait to see the end result!

Now, I hit Rite-Aid up last year at the end of Autumn for all their SUPER cheap leftover Fall decorations! Seriously like $1 here, 50 cents there! Needless to say, I racked up! And because I did...my apartment looks like this:

That last one really isn't Fall-y, but, I LOVE it. It obviously stays up all year. :)

And just for fun I'll throw in a couple random recent pics since Facebook's being sketchy...

Look who I found at North Lincoln's homecoming game! My newly married bestie, Caroline! :)

And Lenoir-Rhyne's homecoming was the next day & LR does fireworks on Homecoming night, so Alex & I made sure to catch them again this year! {We always fail at taking pics of us in front of the fireworks as they are big & pretty...maybe one day we'll master that trick!}



Can we just do a recap from last year's homecoming fireworks??

Yeah I THOUGHT Alex was wearing the same shirt again. Now this just proves it! ;) Haha!! Look how different my hair looks!! I am forever changing my hair! Speaking of, I have an appointment this Thursday. Can't decide if I wanna keep it blonde or go back dark for the ♥Fall♥...