My Foyer

Here's the latest thing I've done to my home!

I was finally ready to beautify my bedroom, but then decided to vamp up my foyer. I decided that this is the first place and first impression of my home and why should it be blah? I want it to be fabulous like the rest and make people feel happy and comfortable, instead of awkward. So I decided on a whim to buy some paint and have at it! Here's how it went:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Isn't it fun!!? I grew a tree in my hall!

I've been wanting for a long time to try starching fabric to a wall, but couldn't figure out what I wanted to do exactly....and then I thought A-Ha!! And conveniently, my cousin who is an aspiring artist of sorts was hanging out, so I had her grab some chalk and help me draw it on one afternoon.... surprise Mike! He, as usual, had no idea what I was doing. He usually doesn't like surprises, but enjoys this one :)

The idea is that since the tree is painted on, and the leaves are starched on and removable and re-usable, I will change my tree with the seasons! This winter I'll take these down and make it wintery with snow balls and such, maybe ornaments or something. In Spring I'll make it have little bright greet buds and pretty pink blossoms! This, clearly, is my Autumn tree. It's so close, that I am willing it here - I can feel it! The air has already been cooler! You all can thank me later :)

This is the view from the top of the stairs. (Notice that I ripped the chair railing out! It was pretty rewarding taking my little crow-bar and snapping off the planks :) Yeah, it was a gooood time. Now, there's nothing wrong with chair rails, they just don't fit into my taste - except my kitchen, presently - and it seemed a little silly in my hallway. Don't hate me because I hate chair rails! Ha!)

Since it's by my front door, I added some really cute hooks on the banister of the stairs right inside the doors for guests to hang their coats or purses. It used to be that they came in and it got a little awkward when they had to toss their coats on the rail, or on the floor of the steps. I like them a lot too!

You can also hang your favorite princess bag up out of your baby brother's reach :)

More goodness from the rest of the hallway to come :)

Hall Tree How-to

Here for your at-home pleasure is how I did my Hall-tree!!

Pick your naked wall.

Grab a creative buddy and start drawing! I recommend using chalk because it usually smooths in with the paint when you paint over it and washes off easily with a wet rag. Don't use orange on a white wall...it stains and will make you really frustrated....I know this now, because that's what I did. *dislike*

My lovely assistant here is my cousin Allie. Smile, Allie!

Once you've got the tree at a place that you feel is complete (enough) then start painting!

I didn't exactly follow the drawing on the wall. I did for the most part, but as I was going and could see what was forming on the wall, I had to change it.
I made it less heavy and more flowing and full of motion. I painted WAY less branches than we drew...because I knew what was coming and there was no way I was going to do it! And it would have just looked bulky.
Once finished painting, grab your lovely stack of fabrics:
and trace some leaf patterns onto them and cut away!
Lots and lots and lots of leaves! Small, Medium, and Large!
Make your paste solution. Here's what I did - ish.

@1/8 cup of cornstarch

mix with @ 1/2 cup of water

then mix with @2 cups of hot to boiling water.

Let it cool and get really impatient and wonder why I used boiling water because it's taking forever to cool!!!

Patience is not my strongest virtue.

Once the starchoction (yes, I made that up) was cooled enough to stick my little fingers in, I dipped them in, rung them out a little and slapped them on! Easy as that!
Close up! You can see they are smooth to the wall like wall paper:
Let them dry and enjoy a beautiful, as temporary as you want it to be - yet durable - wall art display.

To check out my complete 4 seasons transformations, check out these links:

My Autumn Tree

My Winter Snowball Tree

My Spring Tree

My Summer Tree

Cute Fabric-Scrap Wreath

'What I've been up-to' Update #3

While I was on my blogging hiatus, I was busy crafting, redecorating, and other such business. Here's one of the projects I did!

Cute Fabric-Scrap Wreath

I've got a lot of fabric scraps. For some reason, I just can't throw them away 'because some day they will be good for something.' I have found my first use :)

Take said pile of fabric scraps and grab a foam wreath form or two.
Start braiding!! Braid and braid and braid some more! (Help from a cute kid is optional)
When you think you have enough to wrap around the wreath, you don't. Keep braiding.
When I decided "Heck with this braiding business, I'm going to start pinning.", well, that's what I did. I took my box of a bazillion straight pins and my wreath form and pinned the fabric braid to it! I like the colored pin heads with my scrappy fabric :)
Pin around, tuck the ends and pin them down. Hang on the freshly painted front door!
And enjoy so much that you make another :)