Board and Batten Reveal

I am so proud to finally show off my living room wall. We started the project last year and finally got the last coat of paint on the walls last month. We always seem to be working on a couple projects at a time. Does anybody else take on two or three projects at once?  I have really been trying to be more diligent about getting current projects done before starting new ones. I blame my short attention span on Pinterest.

I am really trying to add a cottagey (is that even a word?) charm to our home and trying to make it feel less builder grade.

We found several tutorials on how to do board and batten. I really liked the look that Emily from Decor Chick used in her living room.

My living room is set up a little funny, it is really long and narrow and it's hard to get furniture to look right. I think the board and batten wall makes the living room look a little wider.

We painted the wall (above the board and batten) Antique Silver by Glidden and the board and batten was painted white using Ace Wall and Trim paint.

Here is what we used to create the board and batten look. 

Board: 1/4" Birch plywood - 4' x 8' sheets (we chose the plywood to create a smooth texture). You can also just paint the wall white and add the batten. 

Batten: 1/2" MDF - 4' x 8' sheets 

Ledge: pine trim 1" x 2"

Trim under Ledge: cove moulding 3/4"

We cut the birch plywood down to fit the wall, primed the board and used liquid nails to attach the board to the wall. Next we cut the MDF, primed and painted and nailed it to the wall using a nail gun. We then added the pine trim and the cove moulding under the ledge. To finish off the look we used paintable caulk and nail filler to cover up any nail holes and gave the wall a few more coats of white paint.

Ok, now here is the big moment the true reason why you had never seen this wall before now. The ugly BEFORE and I mean this is like, "Hello 2005... Maroon paint what were you thinking?" I lived with this ugly wall for seven years. I have pictures of me with my little girl as a newborn in front of this ugly wall. I remember when I painted this wall and I just loved the dark color. YIKES!

It's an amazing before and after in my opinion. I love the board and batten! Actually, I want to add it to every wall in the house. I can see my husband rolling his eyes now! It just makes such a huge impact on a room. This space now has a cozy feel to it and it's hard not to just sit and stare at this wall all day. :)


I am linking to:
House of Hepworths
Tatertots and Jello
DIY Showoff
Coastal Charm
Savvy Southern Style
Under the Table and Dreaming
Home Stories A to Z
Thrifty Decor Chick
Beneath My Heart
Serenity Now

What I Wore Wednesday

Hello, thank you for stopping by! I am apologize that it has been a week since my last blog post. Wow, where did this week go? We have been so busy with family gatherings and DIY projects. My daughter has a birthday one month from today, so we have also been preparing for her big day. I always try to make my own invitations, it's a lot of work but I like to know that they were made with love. I am just going to do a quick post of what I wore this week. I have a big project reveal and a giveaway coming up later this week so please stay tuned. 


Ok, here is what I wore this past week.

Gray Cardigan: Old Navy

Purple Ruffle Shirt: Old Navy

Seven for All Mankind Jeans: Goodwill ($3.50 for boutique jeans....score!)

Shoes: Target

I hope you are having a great week!

I am linking to: 

The Pleated Poppy

Mason Jar Solar Lights

Don't you just love all of the things you can do with a Mason jar? My favorite is the old aqua jars with the zinc lids. They look so pretty sitting in a window sill with the sunlight coming through them.  Did you know that first Mason jar was invented in 1858? I am also amazed at the popularity of the Mason jar, if you get on Pinterest or most home decorating/craft blogs you are more than likely to see an image of a Mason jar. 

Well, I have been wanting to make Mason jar solar lights since I saw them in a catalog three years ago. I can't remember where I saw them first but they were around $40 for the solar light lid and jar. I am a very thrifty girl and $40 was just a little too much money for me to spend on a pretty Mason jar. Last week while I was at the Dollar Tree I spotted  some solar lights. I knew for a $1.00 each that this was a sign for me to make my Mason jar light. I have seriously been swooning over for these lights for the past three years. Here is a tutorial for all of those that might have been swooning over them too.

SUPPLIES

Mason Jars

Dollar Tree Solar Lights (Or any solar light)

Duct Tape

Lids for the Jars

Spray Paint (Optional)

Painter's Tape (If you decide to spray paint)

TUTORIAL

First Step: Screw off the top of the light 

Prep your lids and the lights for spray paint. I used Duct Brand clean release painter's tape to cover the solar panels on the lights. 

Spray paint the lids and lights. I used a few light coats of Krylon's flat black spray paint.

Since, the lights are smaller than what the size of the hole is for the jar I needed a way to keep the light in place. I though duct tape would work well and it's weather proof. I cut the duct tape into 7 inch strips and folded the duct tape in half to make it double sided. 

I then wrapped the tape around the light after the spray paint had dried. Note: You don't want to put too much tape around the very top because it will stick out when you put the lid on.

I then placed the light inside of the jar. I wouldn't put too much pressure on getting the lid in. I just kind of pushed it in until it felt snug, adding the lid will make it even more secure. 

 Can't see the duct tape can you? 

Aww, my three year obsession is now over! It's still a little cold here to sit on the patio, but in another month or so I am sure I will be outside enjoying my new lights. 

I am linking to:

Debbie Doos

Fox Hollow Cottage

Savvy Southern Style

Coastal Charm

Tatertots and Jello

DIY Showoff

Home Stories A to Z

Serenity Now

House of Hepworths

Shabby Creek Cottage

Beyond The Picket Fence

Under the Table and Dreaming

Pink When Monthly Craft Showcase

Jojo and Eloise: Knock Our Socks Off Party!

Rain On a Tin Roof

Thrifty Decor Chick

What I Wore Wednesday!

Sorry, this post is a little late getting up this week! By the way, where has this week gone? It seems like it was just Sunday. I don't really have an exciting outfit to share this week. I am pretty proud of myself for mixing polka dots and stripes. I would have never done that in the past, I am such a risk taker. Haha!!!

Here is what I wore this week!

Cardigan: Old Navy

Polka Dot Tank Top: Old Navy

Jeans: Silver (carsons)

 Shoes: Payless 

I am linking to:

The Pleated Poppy

Organizing a Toddler's Closet

It's been an organizing whirlwind here at my house.  Last week I showed you what the floor of our utility closet looked like. It wasn't pretty, in fact it was a little scary. Well, I couldn't stop at the utility closet no, I had another thorn in my side that needed to be organized. My daughter's closet has been in chaos since the day we brought her home almost two years ago. I had it all organized and pretty before I was ready to have her but I didn't factor in all of the crap stuff you get after the baby is born. We really didn't have a lot of clothes for her because we didn't know if we were having a boy or girl. We had all of the basics covered, but like I said after we brought her home the stuff in the closet grew and grew. This past weekend, I decided it was time to get back to organized. I couldn't find anything in it anymore and it was starting to get ridiculous.     Is it just me or don't you feel out of control when all of your stuff is out of control? I just always feel so much better to open up a door and see everything in its place. I hope this post can offer some helpful tips to those of you who might be feeling your organization or lack of organization is getting out of control. 

Here is what the closet looked like BEFORE (you might want to sit down for the before shots.) 

Yikes, what happened here?

The first thing I did was take everything out of the shelves and threw it in a big pile on the floor. I then sorted out the stuff that needed to stay and the stuff that needed to go. I then created smaller piles for more specific things like shoes, blankets, hats and so on.

I bought some totes at the Dollar Tree that matched the room and then labeled them. I was able to find some free faux customizable chalkboard labels and printed them out on my ink jet printer. I cut out the labels and glued them to card stock to make them a little heavier. I then punched a hole in the top and placed ribbon in it and tied it to the totes.

I had bought these baskets from my local Dollar General before my daughter was born. I think they were around $5.00 at the time and they have really held up well. My husband made the chalkboard labels with some left over scrap wood that we had. I saved the green gingham ribbon from a baby present we received and tied it to the label.

I really wanted to utilize the shoe shelf a little better. I found these white stackable wire shelves at Dollar Tree as well. I like how I am able to slide her shoes underneath the shelves and then use the top shelves for something else. I found the green baskets sitting on the top of the stackable shelves at the Dollar Tree as well. I placed all of her headbands, barrettes, clips and bows in those baskets.

This little paint can came from Lowes. I cut out the vinyl letters on my Cricut and put them on the bucket for all of the travel sized bottles and little diaper bag stuff. 

I think the most important thing to remember when organizing is that you don't have to spend a lot of money to make it look pretty! 

Can I say what a relief it is to have this closet organized! 

I am linking to:

Debbiedoos

Fox Hollow Cottage

Savvy Southern Style

Coastal Charm

Tater Tots and Jello

House of Hepworths

Rain on a Tin Roof

Thrifty Decor Chick: It's the little things!

Serenity Now

DIY Showoff

Under the Table and Dreaming

Home Stories A to Z

Mom 4 Real

Upcycled Yardstick

 Have you ever seen the episode on Friends where Chandler finds Monica's secret closet? Monica was a clean freak and every thing had a place, but she had this one closet that nobody knew about. Well, you could say I might have a few closets like that. I am not proud of this and it drives me absolutely insane every time I open a closet door I am attacked by all of the crap stuffed in the closet. Sometimes I think I could probably qualify for the show Hoarders. My living spaces are usually clean minus the toddler finger prints and toys.  I have really tried hard to work on my hoarding, I have even purged a few things which to a hoarder can be the hardest decision they ever have to make.

One of the closets that I am working on is our utility closet. Um, I must confess you can't even see the floor.  I have lunch bags, shopping bags and aprons just thrown on the floor. The first thing I need to do is get the floor picked up. I am really into using the resources I already have because I don't think I should be spending my child's college fund on pretty baskets and hooks. So, I looked around my house and came up with the idea of using clothes pins (as hooks) glued to a yard stick.

Please note that all of the bags are empty and do not have anything in them. I don't know how well the clothespin will hold a bag filled with stuff. I just wanted to add that disclaimer. 

I think the clothespins hooks would also be cute to use in a kitchen command center or to display child's art work. Or lost socks in the laundry room.

I know you are all jealous of my Wonder Woman apron. :)

Let's take a look at what the floor looked before shall we?

Holy, HOT MESS Batman! I told you it was bad! It was such a relief to get that stuff off of the floor and get rid of the things I didn't need. I think it already looks a lot better in there.

Here is how I made the rack using the yardstick and clothespins.

I got these clothespins at the Dollar Tree awhile back. I painted (5) of them white just to make them a look a little prettier as hooks. 

I then printed out some blue and white striped paper from this blog. (On a side note: Did you know you can get almost any color of scrapbook paper you want on the internet? You just need a printer.) After I printed out the design on the paper I then cut out strips to lay on the clothespins and used Mod Podge to finish off the look of the clothespins. 

I then laid all of the clothes pins out on the yardstick so I could figure out where they would be glued

I used a little Gorilla Glue and glued the back of the clothespin onto the yardstick. I placed a rock on the clothespins to add some pressure when drying.  Once you have let it dry then you are ready to hang the yardstick. This was such an easy project. You can get yardsticks or rulers just about anywhere. I found this one for .69 cents at Lowes. Hopefully, I haven't scared you all away with my messy unorganized closet. I hope you all have a great weekend! 

I am linking to:
Debbie Doos
Fox Hollow Cottage
Coastal Charm
Under The Table and Dreaming
Savvy Southern Style