Glove Box Organizer

Posted on October 25, 2013 by Leah Poarch

If you’re like me, the contents of your glove box usually look something like this:

Coupons, tire info, maps. . . .and who can ever find your insurance when you need it?

For several years now I’ve been making these Glove Box Organizers for our cars and today I’m sharing them with you!Here’s what you’ll need:

A small file folder, I buy mine at the dollar store for $1
Label maker or pen
Current contents of your glove box

Sort through your pile of paperwork and decide what labels you’ll need to make. I went with Insurance, Tires, Napkins, Coupons and Maps.

Print labels using your label maker or write on the little paper inserts that come with your file folder. Oh, and be sure to spell insurance correctly! Douh!

Pack your file folder with its’ contents and you’re all set!

Now when ~~your husband~~ someone needs to find the insurance quickly, you’ll know exactly where it is!

We keep one of these in both of our cars and use them frequently!

This is the saga that never ends

Posted on September 27, 2013 by Leah Poarch

Yes it goes on and on my friends! Earlier this spring I made my 1st, 2nd and 3rd attempts to hang a piece of original art in my dining room. . . and I thought I was done. A few weeks ago (about 6 months after I finally hung the painting) I came home from work to this. Back to the drawing board.

I still really believed that the 3M Velcro Strips would work so gave it another go this time opting for 6 smaller strips instead of the 4 larger strips. Instead of super glue, I gave this Loctite Crafter’s Adhesive a try. As usual, I put adhesive on both the strips and the back of the painting, weighted each strip and let it dry for 24 hours.

That was about 7 days ago and I’m happy to report that so far everything is still intact! Beautiful.

As a part of my continued effort to usher in autumn, the painting now has this lovely paper bead garland.I’ll keep you posted. What do you think, will it stay or will it fall?

SPS: Adding trim to the kitchen desk

Posted on September 25, 2013 by Leah Poarch

That’s right another installment of the Small Project Series! The SPS are all those small things that still need to be done after a big project but you just lack the motivation to finish . . . in my case because I’m already dreaming about the next big project!

Up today is the built-in desk in my kitchen. At first glance I’m sure you’re thinking, ‘That’s looks awesome!’

But when you take a closer look you’ll see that we never added the trim and you can now view this huge gaping hole where the right side meets the wall. Yikes.

So last weekend I finally busted out the tape measure and cut three pieces of quarter round, 1 for the right side and 2 for where the back meets the wall.

(This was the first time I’d ever used a miter saw!)

As per usual, Phillip was gracious enough to do the hard part: nailing the trim into place! Since it is such a small space it was really hard to get in there with the nail gun much less get a decent picture of the process.

When he was done I filled the holes and painted everything, here’s the finished product!

I know it may seem like much to you but every time I walk by and see trim instead of gaping hole, it makes my heart happy.

Any small projects on the line-up for this weekend?

Dear Fall, Come Quickly

Posted on September 20, 2013 by Leah Poarch

While the rest of the country is rejoicing over the beginning of fall, here in west Texas, we are rejoicing over it being ‘not hot’ i.e. below 95. Holla.

So in making an effort to usher in some cooler temps, I decided to put out my fall decorations. Hopefully the weather will follow suit. The entryway got this felt and yarn leaf garland that I made last year.

Years before I wrote a blog, I made this Give Thanks banner which now hangs below our TV.

Over the years I’ve collect a few ceramic pumpkins as well as some fall vegetables that are now on display at the eat-in kitchen table and in the living room. That precious felt napkin holder I got from the Target dollar spot last year.

The Happy Day Rosette Art also got a leaf garland and a few pumpkins.A few years ago I also made these gold push pin pumpkins, the idea came from this blog.

Have you ushered in fall in your part of the country yet?

2013 House Tour: Part 2 The New Couch!

Posted on July 26, 2013 by Leah Poarch

The house tour continues and today I have a story about how we got a new couch. . . again!Let’s review, in the summer of 2012, our living room looked a little something like this.

Tan, plaid and more tan.

We bought a new couch off of Craig’s List, updated the legs and and painted. As I began to photograph the house for the house tour it looked like this. She was a beauty and I was perfectly content.
Until I saw this couch on Craig’s List the next day and was instantly in love.

It’s a non-white sectional that is the opposite with the lounge arm on the right instead of the left which means that you can now see our beautiful curtains and look out the window!

This caused a good bit or rearranging to take place and here’s where we ended up!

The reading nook is still holding strong and most recently received a renovated foot stool!

Tour of the rest of the house is coming next week!

Remote Caddy Upgrade

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Leah Poarch

After we painted a new media center and added a chevron print frame to cover the holes we made in the wall, I began to notice that our remote caddy was in desperate need of an update.

Here it is, dark, hidden and full of everything. . . except TV remotes! A wireless mouse, my extra set of glasses remotes to 3 fans, 2 of which we don’t own any more and various pens, key chains and some spare change.

Where are the key chains you ask? On the couch, next to floppy pillows and the left over candy container from last night. Cool, right? Needless to say, something had to give.

As per usual, I’m not big into trends. I tend to stray more on the side of classics that have stood the test of time but when I stumbled across the geometric tray at Hobby Lobby I couldn’t leave without it.

It quickly got a few coats of gold paint, the bottom got some coral and then several coats of high gloss finish and there you have it!

Isn’t she a beaut?

I also purged the occupants of the previous remote caddy and have committed to only keep these 2 remotes, the ones we actually use, in it.
What’s in your remote caddy?

Polka Dot Mushroom Tutorial

Posted on July 10, 2013 by Leah Poarch

Summer is upon us and as you know I’ve been working on sprucing up my backyard which is still a HUGE work in progress. This week I took some time to work on the front for a little while and so I’m here today with another garden mushroom tutorial.

Since I made my last piece of garden art, I’ve been on the hunt for another perfect mushroom pairing. I’ve had the most luck finding awesome pieces at the ReStore but I also hunt Goodwill and flea markets. This particular pairing is a large, standard sized vase and the bowl from a light fixture.

There’s no magic to finding the right stem and cap combo, just go with whatever you like!

Start by painting white circle on the inside of you bowl. If you’re using craft paint like I did it will probably take 3 coats. Then paint the entire bowl with the color of your choosing. I opted for red and again it took several coats.

Once your paint is dry you’ll want to find a few good sized rocks to put in the bottom of your vase. Without them your mushroom will probably be top heavy and fall over.

Next, super glue. Spread a thin layer around the top rim and place your mushroom cap on top. I let mine set while we were out of town for the weekend leaving it alone for 2 days would do the trick I think.

Place it in your garden and enjoy!

PS – You can also see how I made my original mushroom and how I upcycled that iron pineapple in the background.

Custom Mr. & Mrs. Pillows

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Leah Poarch

Happy 4th of July! I know I’m a little late but the 4th is my absolute favorite holiday out of the entire year. We all spent a fun filled weekend with my family in Fredericksburg. Several of you have asked about the pillow I made for our bed so I thought I’d give a tutorial on how to make your own custom pillows.I knew I wanted navy pillows with a pop of color and I found the perfect gold ribbon at Hobby Lobby.

Next, you want to cut strips of ribbon and stage them on your pillow so you’ll know exactly where to place them.

Also, don’t judge me by my pillows. I’m always on the hunt for ragged looking pillows at garage sales because a little fabric can go a long way!

Before you attach the ribbon to the pillow go through and turn over the edge on all of your ribbon pieces. I did this with my hot glue gun, just be sure to turn enough ribbon so you don’t burn your fingers!

Make a simple pillow cover and hot glue your ribbon onto each cover and you’re done!

Master Reno: Jewelry Display

Posted on June 20, 2013 by Leah Poarch

As a part of our Master Bedroom Renovation, I sold my large vanity and created this jewelry display using the low dresser from the mid-century furniture jackpot.I started with 2 large frames from my stash. . .

. . . that got a few coats of gold paint.

I picked up some cup hooks and Lowe’s and placed each frame in our vice grip using a washcloth as a bumper. This kept the frame steady enough to drill holes in, without damaging the new paint job.

I drilled holes along the inner rim of the top of each frame, screwed in the hooks and hung my necklaces on them!

I also found this small vase at the dollar store and dipped it, similar to what I did with my Dipped Votives.

It now holds bracelets next to the dessert stand that I found at Goodwill.

This small frame got a fresh coat of paint and now holds all my fabric flowers.

How do you display your jewelry?

Master Reno: Reveal

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Leah Poarch

For a while now I’ve been working on renovating our master bedroom and I have to say, it’s been quite a challenge. This was the last room in the house that I’ve done because for many, many months I didn’t have any inspiration. I wanted some that felt warm and inviting without being too girly and that is where my greatest challenge came. A few weeks ago I stumbled upon navy and coral and I knew I was in love.

Enough of me talking . . . here’s the big reveal!

Our dresser got some custom artwork and a new charging station.

Next to the closets I created a jewelry station.And in the other corner, a reading nook with a certain mid-century hutch.What’s behind all those pillows?