A ‘Rug’ged Outlook

We’re still trying to infuse some much needed color into our white, white kitchen and I knew that one of the biggest steps I could make in that direction would be putting down a rug.  I wanted a runner but, you know me, I didn’t want to spend a bunch of cash on one.  I wanted something with a big geometric pattern but unfortunately, unless I settled for a plain old solid, nothing with a price tag low enough (say under $25) was popping up.  Never fear, pinterest is here (my new mantra?).  I’ve seen dozens and dozens of stenciled and painted rugs before and those rugs usually hailed from IKEA, which we don’t have anywhere close.  Lucky for me, I’ve got a friend named Allyson who does.  She.saved.the.day.  She’s going to school 30 minutes from an IKEA and so I had her swipe up a rug for me and bring it down home last summer.  Well, then the twins were born, I lost a bunch of sleep, I was feeding them allthetime, other projects got in the way, I couldn’t decide what color, yadda, yadda, yadda…  But, last weekend while Anthony was away on a trip to St. Louie, I got my rug on.

First of all, the inspiration.  John and Sherry from Young House Love created the ultimate dollhouse for their little girl, Clara, and this is one of the rooms:

When I saw it, the first thing my eyes went to was the “rug”.  I had to replicate the pattern.  So, I did.

And here’s how:

I used a 3/4 inch thick piece of insulation styrofoam to make a stamp and stamped the design over the entire rug.  You could probably use a thick piece of cardboard or a piece of packing styrofoam as well.

The first thing I did was draw up the design.  I made the outside square one foot by one foot and  guessed at the rest of the design’s measurements.  

Then I traced it onto my foam piece and cut it out using one of our knives (I really, really need to invest in an exacto knife).  I made sure to get a clean cut on the side of the foam that I’d be stamping with.  The other side crumbled a little as the knife cut through but since it wouldn’t be touching the rug, it didn’t matter.

To give me something to hold onto while I stamped, I glued a wood block to the back of the inside stamp and two folded pieces of cardboard to the outer square.

Enter the rug.  Lucky for me, it’s almost the same size as our dining room table so I had a perfect work surface.

As for the color, I finally decided on this: 
Valspar’s Secluded Garden.  It’s part of their pre-mixed sample selection at Lowe’s this season.

So, starting with the outside square of my design, I brushed a coat of paint onto the foam using a small foam brush.

Then I stamped the very center of the rug, which I measured for and found beforehand.

I worked my way out and around the entire rug…

until I had a basic lattice design.

Next I grabbed the inside of my design and stamped it inside each square.

 

 

After I was done stamping, I filled in the design by sponging on paint using my foam brush.

I let it dry for 24 hours before I laid it down for fear that if I didn’t I’d be tracking blue paint all over our house…a nice surprise Anthony would’ve loved to come home to, I’m sure.

[Update:  Read about how the rug is holding up here!]

The cost?
Rug:  $20
Paint: $6 (two sample-sized jars)
Foam:  already had
Foam brush:  already had
Total:  $26

 

  

But wait!  There are two “sides” to every story, including this one.  I’ll let you in on the other side sometime this week.  Until then, I’m linking up with Ana and her infamous Valentine’s Day Cabin Fever Creativity Link-Up and this weeks Martha Mondays.  Go check out the craftiness that’s flowing and have a great weekend!

P.S.  I’m back from the future and linking up with Remodelaholic here!  Check out all the DIY goodness!

Bean Sprouts: 7 Months

Seven long and short months have passed since the twins exited the confines of mwah and seven long and short months have also passed since the last time I slept more than six hours at a time, had a schedule not dictated by feedings, I could wear a shirt more than once without washing it, “doing laundry” didn’t include washing diapers (many, many diapers), or since I’ve spent a peaceful morning with a cup ‘o joe by my side, just wisting away my big plans for a wide open day.  But, I’ve loved every minute of it…nope, that’s a lie.  Those hundreds of times now where my peaceful slumber has been ripped to shreds by baby pipes aren’t so loved…accepted, but not loved.  Anyway, I’ll stop my rambling and get on to what I know you really all care about anymore (becausemommyischoppedliver), the offspring.

Seraphia.
The girl with two bottom teeth, barely protruding from the surface of her gums.  The girl who hated food at the beginning of the month but is now open wide at the sight of her rubber spoon.  The girl whose hair I still just can’t wrangle…another trim of the left side is impending. Her new thing as of this past week, being the girl who can get up on knees and elbows and wobble back and forth before falling and getting right back up.  First one to get teeth, first one to start making mobility moves, first-born…it all just makes sense, I guess.  She talks and talks and talks, whether something is in her mouth or not and, speaking of her mouth, loves it to be always occupied.  Not in a ‘hungry’ sort of way, but just always ‘chewing’ sort.  As a matter of fact, anything and everything she gets her long fingers on goes straight to the mouth usually preceded by a monstrous “arggghhh”.

Cecilia.
   The girl who eats anything and everything – pears, oatmeal, squash, medicine, Mommy’s hair – it’s all one and the same to this girl.  Her mouth is always WIDE open, ready for any sort of nourishment that might find it’s landing there.  She’s the girl who, even though she was falling asleep whilst eating two seconds before, suddenly thinks that once we make our way with her to the crib for bedtime, that it’s now play time.  Girl without a tooth to be seen, girl with the two biggest baby dimples I ever did see, girl with her hands always behind her head:
Seriously, this girl can chill.  My sister took all of these pictures during her five-day stay a couple of weeks ago.  It’s her go-to position.  One.of.a.kind.

Sooo…

Per monthly tradition, we sat the sprouts on the ‘ole loveseat to get some proof of growth the other night and they just wouldn’t have it.  The first snap was okay but then it just went downhill from there.

So the next day, after being reminded that we are dust (Ash Wednesday, in case I lost ya there), I sat them back down for another try:
 

 

Happy St. Valentine’s Day!

WIWS ~2/10/13~

I’ve been meaning to jump back on the party bus labeled “What I Wore Sunday” for some time now and thought I’d use it as an opportunity to decrease my alterations pile – posting my mass outfit only if it involves an alteration.  Good motivation.  My pile is large.  Well, then yesterday came along and I decided to pack up the kids while Anthony was tending to teenagers (ah, the life of a youth minister) and head out to the vigil mass solo.  I wasn’t wearing anything altered but I was feeling especially cheery in my yellow skinnies so I thought I’d participate anyway.  Thing is, by the time I got both girls fed and ready, diapers changed and re-changed, I only had a few seconds to snap a pic.  So, I grabbed Seraphia on my way to putting her in her car seat, set the camera on the dresser, clicked and ran to my post, said cheese, walked over and turned the camera off, and headed out.  With that said, this folks, is what I wore to mass: And this is also why you should never turn the camera off before making sure you’ve captured a crisp and clear sliver of life, aimed in the right direction.

Better luck next week.  :)

The off kilter details:
Sweater:  Tarjay
Skinnies:  Tarjay
Belt:  my dad’s old belt…vintage I think they’d call it  :)

You can be sure to find lots more haze-free outfits over at Fine Linen and Purple!

Nursery Progress

I’m long overdue on a post about the current state of the girls’ room so I’ll save a project post for Ana’s Valentine's Day! Cabin! Fever! Creativity! Link-Up! (how can you not get excited with all those exclamation marks!) and give a little run-down on what’s done and what’s yet to do. 

I know most people finish their nurseries before their kids pop out but not me.  The plan was to have it done but then we just kept getting stuff for the girls and all that stuff kept getting piled into their future room and big ‘ole pregnant me just got a little overwhelmed with the material chaos of having two at once and procrastination set it and…well, you get the point.  It’s not done.  But, tis otay because technically they have yet to inhabit it.  They’re still rent-free in our room at the moment which buys me some time to slowly work towards a completed nursery and time to work on other projects as well.  You know me, I like to jump around…kitchen to shoes to nursery back to kitchen and then to the entry way.  It keeps things hoppin’.  I go where the inspiration blows me.

So anyway, I give you progress:

 


    
 

Still left to do:
- make a cover for the changing pad (yes, we’ve been using it but the plain plastic is getting to me)
- make a fabric pouf/ottoman to pair with the rocking chair which…
- needs to be reupholstered or covered with a new slipcover – both diy options
- recover the lampshades
- stain the dresser?  paint the dresser?  still tossing that around in the nog…
- hang frames and art and lots of it (next to the angel window art and above the dresser…I’m thinking a collage of some sort)
- revamp and hang the mirror I picked up thrifting whilst visiting my sis
- diy a rug/floor cloth (I bought a round tablecloth for this purpose…will it work?  I guess we’ll see.)
- paint the front of the window seat and jazz it up somehow (a cushion, pillows, the stuffed zoo the girls have inherited?)
- lots tweakings and stuff I haven’t even thought of yet
- eventually move the twins in which includes squeezing in the second crib

Whew!  Is that it?  At the rate I’m going it’ll be finished just in time for the girls tenth birthday…  But you bet I’ll fill you all in on all the deets cause that’s how I do.

Have a great weekend…and don’t forget about Ana’s link-up!  :)

P.S.  It’s party time!  Linking up at Watch Out, Martha!  Head on over and see some more Martha-esque posts!