The easiest project ever! Ever!!!

Wow!  Has it really been a month since I last posted?!?

I might be ashamed of that fact,  if it weren't for the super important project I've been working on..."being mommy".  Ya, I pretty much bailed on you guys so that I could focus my total and complete attention on five of my very best creations...my kids!  

Things were a little crazy going into the holidays and I could tell my kids needed some attention, especially my daughter who has special needs.  She's been struggling a little and I just needed to take some time off to focus on her for bit.

Anyway, things appear to be on the up and up now and the blogging/crafting/projecting has officially resumed!  

I decided to ease myself back into things with The World's Quickest and Easiest Project Ever...Ever!!!

I am totally serious this project literally took me five minutes to make and cost only $3.  Intrigued?  Here's how it went down.

You need only TWO supplies...a glue gun and a floor mat.  You know how much I love the $3 floor mats from Ikea. 

I hopped on Ikea's website and here are some of the floor mats they have in stock currently...all for just $2.99!

 I've used these mats to make all sorts of things floor poufs, roman shades and now pillow covers.

To get started:

1- I plugged in my glue gun.

2.  I folded my floor mat creating a little pocket or envelope.

3- I hot glued both sides of the mat.

{note: you over achievers could sew up both sides instead of gluing.  My machine was having issues that day, so I made it easy on myself and just hot glued it.  I always have the option of going back and sewing it up later...if need be.}

4- I flipped the mat inside out.

5- I shoved an old accent pillow inside.

And VOILA.  Done!

Can you believe this pillow cover only cost $3 and took only 5 minutes to make?  

What I love most about these pillow covers, besides being super easy and cheap to make, is that they are removable.  If you need to wash it or just want to change it out, all you have to do is remove the insert and you're good to go.  And because they are made from something meant to be walked on, they are super durable.

And apparently fringe is the totally "in" thing right now.  I found this similarly styled pillow at Target recently

{Nate Berkus for Target- regularly $24.99, but currently on sale for $17.48}

So, today's tip of the day:  Ikea floor mats and glue guns are totally rad...especially when they are used to make these awesomely cheasy {cheap + easy} pillow covers.

Finally, I just thought I'd leave you with this anxiety provoking image:

Check back soon to see why my bedroom looks like a closet threw up in it!

Fabulousness.

Howdy peeps!

I know that today is not Friday, but I still wanted to get in a few "fab finds" before a new week started.  I have a handful of them to share today.  The holiday season has got me in all sorts of a giving mood, what can I say?

My first fab find comes from my home away from home...Ikea.  For those of you with little kiddos, this will be of particular interest to you.

It is a "pepparkaka hus" {I love saying that!!!} It's a gingerbread house kit for $2.99.  Are you feeling the love?  I am because now I don't have to try and fashion five, little houses out of ill fitting graham crackers.  And...and, five of these "kaka" houses are about the same price as one of those kits you can buy at the grocery store, only now WWIII won't have to break out cause everyone can decorate their own.  Thanks Ikea!!!  My kids' houses are gonna rock it this year and I might actually stay sane through Christmas break.

My second fab find sort of goes along with my first as it also comes from Ikea and is of the "pepparkaka" variety.

I have been wanting to have one of those "handmade holiday" Christmas's where the fam sits together 'round the fire stringing popcorn and cranberries into garland and folding paper into sock and mitten shapes for ornaments.  In my mind I picture something straight out of a Norman Rockwell calendar, when in reality it would probably go down more like something out of Maury Povich episode.  Anyway, I have been wanting to make "homemade" cookie ornaments for the littles to decorate and now I don't have slave away in the kitchen doing the blessed souls at Ikea did it for me.  I know, I know... hardly handmade, but I don't think the kids are gonna care too much.  I mean who doesn't love a "kaka" cookie?

And finally, my third fab find, which I am completely obsessed with and totally wracking my brain trying to find a place to use them is... peel and stick paneling from stikwood.com.

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The panels are real wood veneer with an adhesive back

which makes for a quick and easy space transformations...they are pretty much my dream product.

I did a little google searching and came up with a few awesome project that used these wood panels.

Keep a hanky handy cause you'll need it to wipe up all the drool.

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I love that you can use this product anywhere...on the wall, on the ceiling, on an island.

Don't be surprised if you see a "stikwood" project featured here in the near future.

Oh, and before I go, don't forget to enter my giveaway.  It ends tomorrow night and a winner will be announced Wednesday.  In addition to a free Kensie product of your choosing, you will also win a fun holiday gift from me.  Check back Monday to see what it is!!!  You won't be disappointed.

Faux fo sho!!!

My fab fid for today is one that I sincerely love and use all over my house. 

 It is...dun duh nuh nuh

A sheep skin rug, of the faux variety, hailing from the land of Ikea.

It is called TEJN and I give it a perfect "tejn" for it's awesomeness and versatility.

What's more, it can be yours for a mere $9.99.  

I mentioned the versatility of these little rugs.  They are perfect for any decor style...traditional, eclectic, farmhouse, bohemian, beachy...  Whatever your preference, these rugs will work.

Not only that, they can used in a variety of ways and in a variety of places.

They can warm up a floor in a bathroom {or bedroom or kitchen...or any room}

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They add texture and comfort to chairs, benches and an array of seating.

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They make the world's fluffiest pillows ever.

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And because they aren't actual leather...they make recovering seats and stools simple and easy.

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They even make pretty stylish looking chaps.

But the one use I'm most excited about, mainly because Christmas is right around the corner, is that they make awesome and stylish and just plain rad Christmas tree skirts.

I picked up a couple of these TEJN sheepskin rugs last year and threw them under my tree for a simple, chic Christmas tree skirt.  And I claim the idea all my own.  But, guess what I saw in Pottery Barn this year...

Copycats!!!

But seriously, aren't these little rugs the coolest?  If you don't own one already, I highly recommend running out and grabbing one at your soonest convenience.  And just be prepared to run out and buy more...they are that addicting.  I'm telling you, with these babies you can do no wrong...that's "faux" sho!!!

Friday's Fabulous Find...$4 Ikea spice racks

I was super excited when I came across these $4 spice racks at Ikea recently...mainly because they were $4, which is less than $5, which means that whatever it is, it is a smokin' good deal- at least in my book.

  

The other thing I love about these spice racks is their multi-functionality.

They are perfect for, well, spices.

But they also make great book shelves for a child's room or playroom.

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But they aren't just for kids.

They are also perfect for a bathroom and housing some light"adult" reading material.

And if you flip the rack upside down you're left with *GASP* a shelve AND a book/magazine rack combined.  Seriously, for reals.  Check it out.

This little arrangement could totally work in any room of the house.

And can I just tell you how life changing this could be for me?  Right now I have all manner of books and play things just shoved under the kids' beds.  Whenever the kiddos need a specific toy, they pull out every single item until they find what they are looking for.  Naturally, navigating their bedroom can become quite tricky with a floor covered in tripping hazards.  I sometimes like to imagine that I'm Indiana Jones at the end of the third movie...you know the one where he's searching for the holy grail and has to pass a series of booby traps to get to his final destination?  Any who, I won't have to imagine any more because these little babies have now provided a way for me to showcase their favorite toys, while simultaneously de-cluttering the space beneath their beds and also the entire floor.  I almost feel organized...almost.  

So as you see, not only are these spice racks functional, they can also save lives...and all for less than the price of a decent hamburger.

Hello Vanity...and a kids room desk alternative.

Well, progress on the master bathroom continues.  It still feels like there is still a ton to be done, but the rest of it should go by quickly.

The vanity and sink

and floor to ceiling tile backsplash

have been installed...

which means that all that's left is installing the tub, toilet, fixtures and lights.  I am kinda in disbelief that I will have my very own bathroom in a matter of days.  

I will continue to post pictures of the progress, but might hold off on posting any more full room reveals...you know, so that I can build up all sorts of excitement in anticipation of the big daddy reveal.  

In other news, I've been redoing my middle daughter, Avery's, bedroom.  Some of you may recall that she recently moved to the basement.   

After a few months of "isolation" she decided she wanted to move back upstairs.  It's starting to feel like a never ending game of Musical Beds up in here.  Anyway, Studs and I finally layed down the law and told her she is not allowed to change rooms until she's packing up for college.  Technically, we just bought ourselves eight years of time.  Realistically, I give ourselves eight weeks.  Whatevs!

One of the projects I just completed for her bedroom was a "floating desk".  This is a really great option for a room with limited space.  Avery's room is only 10ft x 11ft, so there just simply wasn't room for a bed, a dresser and a desk.

I was inspired by this beautiful floating desk I found online.  I love everything about.  It just looks so...minimal.

{allmodern.com-$659.00}

I started with this prefab wall shelf from Ikea

{Ekby Alex-$46.99}

Here's where the fun part comes in.  

This shelf is just begging for some personalization...so, I decided to utilize some of my left over veneer.

I've mentioned how easy wood veneer is to work with.  It is fast becoming one of my favorite DIY tools.  Everything just looks better with some wood veneer, no?

Before I assembled the shelf {ya know, cause it is from Ikea, which is basically Lego for adults} I found the two drawer fronts and traced around them on the veneer.  Then, I cut the pieces out and glued them onto the drawer fronts using this:

  

I left them to dry while I finished assembling my big lego.  And that was that.  So easy! 

I was ready to mount the shelve/desk to the wall.

I purchased two of these natural wood brackets at $4.00 each at Ikea for attaching the piece to the wall.

Studly made sure that both of the brackets were screwed securely into studs.  This step is critical.  The shelf itself is fairly hefty, then combined with the weight of someone leaning on it to do homework and a few pictures and a lamp, well...

I highy recommend that both brackets be mounted onto studs.  Otherwise your floating shelf may suddenly become a sinking shelf.  

Here's the end result.

It takes up hardly any space and looks flippin' sweet!

Not too shabby for $50.