Bedroom makeover

My daughter Florence just turned 12!!

She wanted me to update her bedroom and make it look a little more mature and glamourous.

This was her room before which I still adore.

I drew the shape of a tree and painted it white and added a birdhouse and some fabric mushrooms to it.

The Makeover.

I gave the walls a fresh coat of the same color.

I bought this fabulous piece of fabric from Urban outfitters and covered the whole wall using sticky back velcro dots for easy removal.

Cut around any electrics and pull the fabric taught sticking it with the velcro.

I found this large mirror on the street with was originally gold.

Painting it a grey underneath then rubbing a candle on top once the paint dried then a coat of China White on the top of that. Use sand paper gently taking off the top layer of white paint to show the grey underneath to give it an aged , distressed look. The candle wax sits in the grooves to reveal the darker paint underneath.

 This dressing table was being thrown out from my neighbors house and as usually gave it a new lease of life.

Using more or less the same process as the mirror.

Adding some ceramic handles it turned into a lovely piece of furniture.

 Printing her favorite idol and framing it really makes the walls look better than her sticking lots of posters up with tape!

Add a variety of cushions on a white duvet adds the color and comfort.

Of course she still wanted to keep her Rabbit nightlight by her bed. Never too old.

Using such a vibrant print as a main feature, steer clear of more prints and keep the curtains and bedding white or it will look too busy.

The bedside table was just what I was looking for in a local thrift store for $50. Gave it a new coat of bright green paint.

Start a wall of framed pictures, drawings, and photos of her favorite things again saves the walls from looking messy with tape etc.

She loves it! 

Halloween Decor DIY ( Do It Yourself)

I'm planning our regular Halloween party again.

Unfortunately I'm not a big fan of the colour orange!! So I try to stay clear of anything traditionally orange.

It is possible to decorate on a budget yet keep it simple and cool looking.

Again as I said in my last post.

Buy Cobwebs.... and lots of them.

Spread them across a room, high up from chandeliers, light fittings, picture frames , mirrors.

Throw in plastic spiders, mice and flys..

 Buy black candles instead of white for a gothic feel and use lots of candle holders everywhere.

Candle light will create a moody feel

Luckily we weren't sent a beautiful bunch of white roses.

As they were starting to die I grabbed the bottle of fake blood that we had left over from last years Halloween and poured it over the flowers.

Another great idea is use old glass bottles or jars or this really cool old skull vodka bottle we had left over.

Fill the with water and then add red food colouring.

You could even pop in a few plastic eyeballs for extra drama.

I'm thinking of making this fab skeleton decor , yet another great idea from Graphic Fairy.

Down load her skeleton graphics and cut them out.

Can't wait to put the glitter on the top hat.

Go here for her free and easy printables.

 http://www.graphicsfairy-diy.com/2012/10/printable-party-decor-clip-on-skeletons.html

You could also print out these skeleton images form Graphic Fairy and put them in some old frames.

http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/

Homemade costumes.

I personally like to make our own costumes for Halloween.

It's more fun and so cheap.

My kids are now a little older 8 and 11 and they don't want to be a cute lion or fairy anymore ( sadly)

They want to be gory and scary. 

It started a few years ago and this is what Charlie then 6 wanted to do.

A cheap bottle of fake blood. Still have some left for this year.

Take an old white shirt and cut it up.

 pour on the gooey blood 

and then hold it up so the blood runs down to create a real mess.

With a bit of black eye makeup and white powder you have created a Zombie.

Cobwebs and pumpkins!

Simply Pumpkins.

If like me you aren't very good at pumpkin carving then let your kids just draw on them with a sharpie pen.

It's so easy and they love it.

Then just put them on your stoop, window ledge or front door.

Simple!

The easiest and cheapest decorations are cob webs.

I get quite a lot of cobwebs (glow in the dark) available from any pharmacy (USA) 

 Get the kids to help you.

Spread them out really well across railings and doors attaching to anything that sticks out. 

Don't just clump them it doesn't look real.

Then throw a handle full of plastic spiders on top!

These are some photos I took last year around our neighborhood in Brooklyn New York.

 Silly pumpkins 

This is one of my favourite houses. 

So simple.

Halloween costumes

Halloween is getting closer and my children are getting very excited and planning who they are going to be?

Actually the have been planning it since June!

But now they are a little older they tend to go for fake blood and fangs.

I wanted to share with you some great ideas that you can make yourself or get a little inspiration.

1) Where the Wild Things....

This mum was extremely talented.

2) A Colonial style wig made from Loo rolls.

Wings 

The Facial hair 

I love a simple mousatche or beard for a funny disguise .

This great website, Crafty has a pattern and how to make them.

3) 

Mushroom 

4)

Star Wars 

Sheep 

5)

Simple cone hats made of card with Pom Poms. 

6) 

Here are the links to the pictures above.

1) http://nicolehill.blogspot.com/2010/11/where-wild-things-are-halloween.html

2)http://www.handmadespark.com/blog/diy-kids-halloween-costume-toilet-paper-roll-wig/

3)http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/toy/operation-incognito/11034

4)http://blogs.babble.com/the-new-home-ec/2011/09/02/20-awesome-handmade-halloween-costumes/

5) http://www.marthastewart.com/271882/animal-costumes-chicken-costume-lamb-cos?czone=holiday/halloween-center/halloween-center-costumes&page=4&center=276965&gallery=274791&slide=197146

6)http://www.papier-mache.com.au/

Tie Backs

So I've been looking for some tie backs for my bedroom curtains and I need 6.
Always on a budget and not finding anything out there that I really like yet I found some really hideous and very cheap tie backs for only a couple of $ from a hardware store. Probably found them at Home Base or Home Depot.

How to make stained tie backs:

• 1 Tblsp gray paint in a bowl ( mixed a bit of pale blue)
• add warm water
• put tie backs in the paint and leave for about 10 mins to soak
• take out and leave to dry on an old plastic bag
• if not dark enough put them back in before drying