DIY Quickie: Copper Vinyl Record Holder

I have a modest collection of vinyl albums - most of them being gifts from a certain feller that knows Ramona Falls, Of Monsters and Men, and The Lumineers are the way to my heart. Trouble is, I've been stumped when it comes to storage. I don't have enough records to constitute a big storage unit, but I don't want to simply stack them. I want them to be on display and within easy reach. After scavenging for a wire record rack to no avail, my boyfriend had the idea to buy a metal filer from an office supply store. Ingenious, right?!

Vintage Romance Novel Wall Decor | DIY Quickie

A couple years back, I scored a bunch of vintage Harlequin romance covers on Etsy for a super low price.  I can't say that I've ever read a Harlequin romance... but I instantly fell in love with the bright colors, vintage illustrations, and kitschy titles.  These babies have been hibernating in an envelope since then because I just couldn't figure out what to do with them.

DIY Quickie(s): More Painted Skeleton Keys

I was sooo smitten with how last night's turquoise skeleton key turned out, that I just had to do a few more today.  As much as I love turquoise and would wear it with anything, I'd love to have one of these necklaces in every color to match any outfit. ;)

DIY Quickie: The Key to My Heart is Turquoise

 A couple days ago, I came across my stash of skeleton keys that I bought at an antique for a $1 each a couple years ago.  I had some good fun trying them all out in my apartment's 100+ year old doorknob keyholes.  (Two of them worked!)  Anyway, last night I felt that a key necklace would really complete my outfit.  But just stringing a key onto a chain wasn't pretty enough.

This DIY Project is for the Birds... (Literally.)

After their makeover, Caesar and Lenny received so many rave reviews from all of you that I couldn't help but bring them back for another guest appearance on the blog.  I visited my parents last weekend and made it a point to scavenge the basement for some of my old things.  And lo and behold! I came across this black birdcage.  The birdcage was a clearance find at Target several years ago when I had a thing for black wrought iron.  I knew it was just perfect for my feathered little friends.

Spray Paint... or Bust!

This is Callias.  Several years back, I drooled over him at a hometown antique store until finally putting down the $15 to take him home.  He symbolizes my huge interest and love for the ancient Romans.  And, well... let's just be honest here:  He's a stud.  But having moved with me several times, his white porcelain veneer had taken a bit of a beating.  I decided it was time to give him a little re-vamp... in the form of spray paint.

Lace + Spray Paint DIY Desk Lamp Makeover

Dull desk lamp?  This project is as easy as pie and easy on the eyes.  Read on, lovelies...

DIY Quickie: Quote Mug

Just a quick little diy project for your Tuesday afternoon.

1. Start with blank slate mug.

2. Write a favorite quote in permanent marker.

3. "Frankly, my dear... I don't give a damn."

(Rhett Butler is my homeboy.)

4. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes to set.

This was fun.  And easy.  I did it while sitting on the couch wrapped up in a fuzzy green blanket and watching Law & Order: SVU.  Best of all, this project cost me like $1.50.  (The mug was a clearance find at Wal-Mart.  And who doesn't have a Sharpie?)  I'm definitely going to make more of these with other favorite quotes. :)

I was inspired by the Jane Austen inspired mugs in the Brookish shop on Etsy:

What would you write on your mug?

DIY Quickie: Chevron Chalkboard

It was a dark and stormy night...

DIY Quickie: Fabric Covered Sketchbook in College & Cook Magazine

I love myself a good diy project.  Given unlimited funds and free time, I'd be crafting up a storm 24/7.  But that isn't so.  So to indulge in my inner do-it-herselfer, sometimes I just have to whip up a diy quickie.  Spray paint is my favorite instant gratification (craftification?).  But occasionally I run out of things to spray paint.  So the nifty little project I contributed to the new Spring issue of College & Cook Magazine is a perfect stand-in for spray painting binges. 

$1 DIY Chair Mini-Makeover | Before + After

As I mentioned in my room tour, my space is a perpetual work in progress.  I always have a diy project up my sleeve and a list of changes to make.  One of those things I've been itching to cross off of my to-do list?  A bedroom chair.  I've been longing for a sweet little vintage chair for a certain corner of my bedroom (between my nightstand and closet).  So I've been searching high and low.  Seriously.  This girl has been on a mission to thrift.  

Friday morning, I hit up One Man's Junk, my favorite vintage/antique store in town.  And I spotted this little charmer in the back room.  He's so handsome.  Big enough to be comfy, small enough to not take up valuable floor space.  Lightweight.  Retro.  The green color of the upholstery is a match made in heaven with the green in my bed quilt.  And I'm a sucker for caning.  

I gave this $20 baby a mini-makeover for just $1. That one little dollar purchased a bottle of Americana acrylic paint in "True Red."  With a foam brush, I applied three coats of the red paint... letting it dry between layers.  Here's the chair after its mini-makeover:

 I think the chair makes a great improvement to that corner of my room, which once looked like this:

Kinda disorganized.  The bucket of shoes sitting on top of two storage ottomans.  Just all thrown together.

Now, it's a perfect spot to sit down with a magazine.  And the bucket tucks nicely underneath.  Big improvement.  :)

Mail Sorter Make-Over Project

Like this cute, colorful mail sorter I made for me and my two housemates?  Well, it only cost me $1 and took a couple hours!  

Super Easy & Pretty Dry Erase Board

(above image via: here.)

I love the function of dry erase boards; they're such great places to write notes to myself. (And they're fun to write on!) But I'm not always crazy about the boring, shiny white board. Well, I came across this nifty diy project on How About Orange. All you need to do is pick out a pretty piece of patterned paper or fabric, frame it under glass in a pretty frame, and hang it up on your wall or set it on your desk. (This is soooo simple... why didn't I think of it before?!) It doubles as art and a dry erase board.

I'm definitely making one of these for my apartment in the fall.

For complete instructions (plus more photos) head on over to Paper n Stitch.