Circle Light Fixture

  Have  you seen these awesome light fixtures ?

   I love them and started  brainstorming some ideas. As it turns out,  I am not the only one that  had the same idea.

 Continue reading…

Guest Post – Edison Style Pendant Light Fixture

Allow me to introduce you to a wonderful couple and an amazing family.  Meet the Wilson’s from “Squeezing It All In“.

This dynamic duo is busting at the seams with talent.  They recently completed DIY light fixture, (and boy am  I a sucker for light fixtures),  and they were kind enough to share their ideas with us!

Edison style pendant light fixture 

The next is my favorite woodworking project.  It was an idea we had after researching bed side lamps.  I really wanted to use Edison style bulbs somewhere and always thought a pendant light over the sink would look nice.  So, I put the two together and built a distressed pine box, stained it dark maple, and wired it to the existing light fixture. 

I ordered most of the parts from Sundialwire, but another good site would be http://www.1000bulbs.com.  

Wire – http://www.sundialwire.com/W182RTBKXXMNF.aspx ($1.45 per foot) | 10 ft = $14.50
Bulbs – http://www.sundialwire.com/BS21MA30.aspx ($9.00) | 5 = $45
Socket – http://www.sundialwire.com/SKSKNK.aspx ($4.75) | 5 = $23.75

Dimensions are 10 inches wide by 40 inches long by 4 inches high.  I spaces the 5 lights evenly across the face (about 6 and 2/3 inches)

The dye I used was Transfast water soluble dye – dark mission brown. 

 Gluing up the box.

Box after some distressing. Right before the dye was applied.  I broke the box while distressing it, so I am repairing it too. Oops. 

Dye applied, now applying a coat (or three) of polyurethane.  I had my helpers for this part. 

Final Product.  It has a beautiful warm glow. Very relaxing at night.  Heather and I love it. 

Again, a big thanks to Heather and Doug for sharing. Make sure to look at all there other DIY projects, recipes and anecdotes at “Taking It All In“. 

 Have a Happy New Year…  FYI  updating my blog is  ranked high on my New Year’s Resolutions.  So bear with me and stay tuned. 

 Thanks, 

Corey

Chalkboard Stickers

 Yes,  I am still here.  I  apologize, the holidays  have been a little hectic.

Well  I am sure Pinterest  has already  informed you that  chalkboard  EVERYTHING is all the rage.   I admit I have fallen  under it’s spell as well.

So, let’s take advantage of the trend and have some stylin’  gift tags. They are cute, easy,  and will take your  gift wrapping up a notch!

So  here is what you do…

Step 1:
  You will need stickers, preferably with a “flat” finish.
( If you can’t find matte stickers  I would suggest these…)

Step 2:

   Spray the stickers with black primer spray paint.

Step3:
   Allow ample time to dry.

Step 4:
Personalize.  Keep in mind that they aren’t really chalkboards, so they are not meant to erase. I use a Prisma  white colored pencil.  They are easy to work with and do not smear.  You can get them at most craft stores. 

Step 5:   Slap it on a package!

Best part?  They personalize, they are impressive, and they don’t freaking fall off.  (I don’t know how,  but I always get my presents prepped, and then mysteriously  Christmas morning, I have no idea what goes to who.) Problem solved.

 Have a Merry Christmas!

Trim-a-Tree Series: Easy Tinsel Ornaments

Happy Thanksgiving!  I know many families wait until the day after Thanksgiving to decorate for Christmas. (Obviously  I am not patient enough to share that notion)  In the event you have not decorated  yet, here is a VERY easy and cheap project…

     I am  sure you  have all seen the many assortments of ugly that these ornaments have been subjected to.  They have been filled with potpourri, painted in marble pattern… I could go on and on…

    Might I suggest this as an alternative.  It is cheap, easy, and  you can  change the color from year to year. 

 

Step 1: cut a 6″ section of Tinsel 

Step 2: Remove Ornament Cap

Step 3: Insert Tinsel 

Step 4: Replace Ornament Cap

 That’s it,  your done! 

It adds visual texture, and some sparkle without going overboard. 

Trim-a-Tree Series: Cheap, Large Ornaments

How about another easy ornament ?

 Ok, here is another EASY one, and potentially free.

Supplies Needed:    
   Wrapping paper
   Tape
   Scissors
   Boxes of various sizes
   Ribbon

Step 1: Wrap boxes
Step 2: Stick them in the tree

 Yup,  that’s it,  your done.

 How easy?   You can choose any wrapping paper to match your colors.  They take up a large amount of space, and they are super cheap!  You are welcome.

  Have fun!

Corey Decker 

Trim a Tree Series: Spray Paint is Your Friend!

 

Are you getting bored with your usual Christmas tree ? 

Well then,  I have a suggestion for you. 

Awesome LARGE ornaments, for less than a dollar, and in any color  your need !?  It’s a Christmas miracle.

Pretty self explanatory.  Now go and give your tree the “wow” factor. 

                                                               
                                                                                                                     Corey

Trim a Tree

 I have said that  I have a  hard time decorating for Thanksgiving  because I LOVE decorating for Christmas. Well, I was not exaggerating.  I put up both of our trees this past week and love them!

        Now,  I realize that to many decorating a tree may be a no brainer… But to others, a  little help wouldn’t hurt. So here is a little step-by-step breakdown.
     First things first, put on the twinkle lights, and make sure they are evenly distributed.

 * Remember, if the back of your tree is not exposed,  you do not need to decorate it! Lights                included,  I simply go back and forth and  save  myself lights and trouble of going around the back. 
 * Remember to know where your power source is, and plan  accordingly.

You can use traditional spray snow, from a can, (only a few bucks at Walmart)  OR you can do what  I did, I took extra boughs from an old tree and spray painted them white.

Adding the white  I think make a huge difference,  it creates contrast and I like it.

      Do not under estimate the impact that  ribbon can add  to a tree! It can cover a lot of space for just a few bucks.  It also breaks up the space, you want a variety of sizes, textures, and shapes,  ribbon helps achieve this!

   At Sam’s Club you can get a 50 YARD roll for $7.00!  In the event you don’t price ribbon, you should know this is an amazing deal!  They have a ton of colors and patterns to choose from.  I had MORE than enough to cover my entire tree, a few garlands and still had extra.

I also  used the  new popular product  wide mesh ribbon.
     *Instead of using the mesh as ribbon,  I actually  cut it into sections (a few feet each), and then   gathered the ends with pipe cleaners.  Then wired the pipe cleaners into the tree.  It created the illusion of going around the tree,  with  using a minimal amount.

    When you add your large decorations, make sure you spread them out evenly.

(That is why  I add all my large pieces all at once. It is easier to make it balanced.)

  I got all of these decorations for only a dollar a peice.  If you price large ornaments,  you know that even the cheapest ones are easily $5.00 a peice.
 

 These are also Dollar Tree Ornaments!

   This is my favorite part, adding   the accent color. I  suggest  using three colors when decorating your tree.  I would use two classic colors that can easily be used year to year.  Then for your “Pop Color”  you can go trendy and not need to replace your entire tree as trends or styles change.

Each of  these were  a dollar or less each. When you are willing to put in a little elbow grease you can really  add the WOW factor to your tree.

    Ok, so NOW is the time to use the normal size ornaments!  You can get these sleeves for only $1, again at Dollar Tree!  Go through and fill in all the small gaps, don’t be afraid to layer as well.

EXTRA CREDIT:
     If you feel like being a little ridiculously over the top,  you an add decoration that extends out beyond the tree.  I think  this last step can really  take the tree to the next level!

 The end result ?  A picture perfect tree!

  Have fun, and enjoy preparing for the Holiday Season! 

                                                                              Corey

5 min Thanksgiving Fix

 

 I am by no means an anti-Thanksgiving nut,  but I do have a hard time “decorating” for it.  If I am being honest with myself, I know I will not make it until after Thanksgiving to put up my Christmas tree. ( I know, I know,  say what you want,  but it takes a lot of work to get all those decorations up and I want to enjoy it!  It doesn’t make me enjoy or celebrate Thanksgiving any less.)  

So instead of putting up more decorations for Thanksgiving,  I just take  down some of the Halloween!  Genius. 

So there you have it folks, a five minute transition from Halloween to Thanksgiving.  What could make this better?  It is free!

Now to start preparations for my  little Winter Wonderland.

Halloween Costumes

 I  hope that everyone had a Happy Halloween!  In the Decker household,  we began preparations a few weeks ago.   Granted this not a tutorial,  BUT,  I will have you know I made both costumes, accessories and all for under $30.00!  I’m sorry, but you can’t buy a halfway decent costume for $15.00!

  When it comes to costumes,  just remember  thrift stores are your friend!  I got the kids boots and jackets in the women’s department!  I tore them apart and recreated them. Buying the material alone would have been way more than $30. So,  just remember to think outside the box!

      My kids are still at an age that they really  don’t care what costume I put them in,  so I take advantage of it!  This year I talked Wyatt into the idea that Captain Hook is a “Cool” pirate!  I figured I could get him to get on board with that idea,  because he currently  likes  “Jake and the Neverland Pirates”.   My only criteria  for costumes is that  I have an elaborate one to make!
Its all about the details!

  Anyone who knows me, knows I have a small fixation on dressing my two boys to match or at least coordinate.  So, if Wyatt was going to be a pirate,  then  Mr. Linc would need to be either  Peter Pan or another Pirate Captain….
So,  I opted for another elaborate pirate.  I was going for the Jack Sparrow look,  I  knew that there was NO way this kid would wear a wig,  so he is kind of  Jack Sparrow. 

 I  had convinced Wyatt  wearing the costume would be fun.  He was a bit skeptical at first,  but after a few minutes,  he relaxed and got into it!

 So did Lincoln.

 Lastly,  here is our trunk for “Trunk or Treat” 

  Hope you all had a wonderful Halloween… now let the holiday season preparations commence!  It’s gonna be good.

LOOK they really do work!

    LOOK my tutorials work!  Karla and her husband recently remodeled their room, and decided to use my Canopy Bed tutorial that was featured here.

 Karla  has an adorable blog ” Forever Newly Wedded” , there you can read all about their room remodel as well as lots of other fun tips, tricks, and anecdotes.

       They did an awesome job,  look how well it turned out!  

 Thanks Karla for sharing!