Headboard Redo

In case you missed it, last week I recovered buttons. I didn't just do that for fun. I redid my headboard for my bed and added the buttons to it. My mom found this fabric shop that sells fabric for around $7 a yard in wide bolts. We went all over the store looking for a color that would match. Initially I didn't want a patterned fabric but when I saw this fabric I loved it. We got 4 yards which was a whole lot more than we needed but better safe than sorry.

First, start out by adding batting to the front of the board. Since we recovered the headboard we didn't need to add a thick layer. I wanted it a little bit thicker so that's why we added more batting. 

Roll the fabric over the batting. You can do this by laying the fabric down first then laying the board over it or roll the fabric on the top, tack it down with pins and flip it over. Be careful if you tack it down with pins, they might stick through to the back. My mom and I worked opposite of each other to keep the fabric taut.

If the fabric is too long it might be hard to fold the corners. I aimed the pins to go parallel with the edge of the board. The pins should stay if they aren't aimed so the fabric can easily come out. At the corners, keep folding the fabric until there are no more wrinkles.

Now to add the buttons. On the back of the board, mark where you would like to place the buttons. Measure how tall the bed is and where the pillows hit so you don't place the buttons where they can't be seen. Space the buttons evenly on the same level. Attach the buttons with string through the back. We tied a toothpick on the string on the back of the headboard so the string doesn't come out.You can also hot glue the string or toothpick down.

And now you have a quick, easy, and inexpensive headboard. Plus, it looks pretty good! We'll use the extra fabric for the curtains.

Recovering Buttons

Project redo my room is still a work in progress. My mom and I made buttons to add to the headboard we are also redoing. It has been quite a busy week after Christmas so far! Because the half-ball cover buttons were expensive, we just bought shank buttons the size we wanted and fabric that matched the new paint job.

To cover the buttons, cut a circle of fabric about 1/2-1 inch larger than the diameter of the button. Next, sew a running stitch around the edge at about 1/4". Don't back stitch and leave the end of the threads long enough to pull.

Now, pull the threads tight encasing the button. If there are wrinkles in the fabric pull it tighter or hand stitch it some. Tie the ends all together. Make sure it's all tight. Since you really don't need that much fabric (depending on how many buttons your probably only need 1/8 of a yard or a scrap if you have one) and the buttons could be ugly and cheap, it's an inexpensive and quick way to make matching buttons!

Bleached T-Shirt

So a few weeks ago my husband asked me if I'd like to get season football tickets for the local university (where he is getting a graduate degree). I said "Sure" and my mind started to work. How could I personalize a t-shirt to say MBA Wife? Because, hey, I'm earning it too, right?

After a trip to the local thrift store--shout out to Savers--I picked up several t-shirts for cheap. Then I found a way to personalize them: Spray Bottle Bleaching! It took no time! I'm going to share with you the test shirt I made to make sure it worked.

Materials:

Bleach

Water

Shirt

Freezer paper

Cardboard 

Plastic bag (optional)

Painter's tape (optional)

Tools:

Scissors

Iron

Spray Bottle

Here's how to do it my wayward way:

Pick out a design you want. I made one on my computer in word: Wayward Girls' Crafts of course! I chose a font and then made the letters outlined. Next, print out the letters on freezer paper. To do this, tape freezer paper on to regular paper so it will slide through the printer. You want to print on the papery side, NOT the waxy side. Then cut it out!

Next arrange your letters on your shirt. With a warm iron, iron those letters on. Make sure the letters are secure and aren't coming up on the sides. If they are, just iron 'em again!

So next grab some cardboard and stick it inside your shirt so the bleach mixture won't seep through and get to the other side of your shirt. 

I wanted to have a box/rectangle around the WGC so I did this next step. You don't have to. Take a plastic bag and cut a rectangle (or any shape) on one side. Put your shirt inside the bag. Make sure your letters fit in the rectangle.

Then use the painter's tape around the edge to seal it.

The bag is going to act as a shield from the bleach. You want to make sure it's covering all the fabric, except what will be bleached.

Next it's time to make your bleach mixture. I roughly, waywardly, tried about 2/3 bleach to 1/3 water. I've read some people used undiluted, and some used other mixtures. I just eyeballed it, roughly.

Next, take the whole operation outside, or a well ventilated area that you won't bleach anything (like a bathroom?). It's best if it's not windy out. Make sure your nozzle is on misting and not squirt (like a straight shot). I did a few test runs on on the cement and figured it out.

You don't want to directly spray it. Just mist over it so it lands there. At least if you want the look I with with.

 You can see I made sure it was good and misted. 

Peel off the letters, tape and plastic bag. It isn't going to be a super big difference, it's rather subtle at first.

This is how it looks after getting washed and dried. My husband was impressed. Time to take it to the next level and make my MBA Wife shirt =)

Any questions?

Bookshelf Redo

Being wayward and crafty, I wanted to take on a furniture redo, even though I really don't know what I'm doing. The best thing to do is to jump right in, right?

When Jasmine was visiting, we went yardsaling. But most people around here are either poor college students or of the use it up/wear it out (or give it a fab makeover!!) mindset, so there's slim pickens and intense competition for what's out there. So technically I found this at a thrift store. It's 3'x2' and it was $10.

The sides were painted and glazed, and the molding . . . not my style. (Plus it wasn't very secure--definitely should have been glued better!) Plus the pegboard back was . . . yeah.

The first thing to go was the molding. Then the paint needed to be redone. I started with spray paint on the shelves but I need more practice, apparently:

My DH pointed out that we do have extra white paint sitting around, so I grabbed it and the rollers and brush, and two coats later, everything was great.

But I didn't dare paint the pegboard. I'd originally planned an intense remake for it, but I had a better (less expensive, less labor intensive, and sure to work) idea: fabric. (Even though picking cute fabric is harder than it looks!)

I planned to fold the edges of the fabric under for clean lines without visible hems or seams (or sewing), but that would leave a double (or quadruple, really) layer in the corners. So I folded the edges together and cut at an angle like this:

To make a corner like this:

Then when you fold the edges, the extra fabric overlaps much less. I still wanted it to overlap a little because I didn't want an unfinished edge sticking out in the corner.

To glue it down, with the shelf laying flat, I wiped the pegboard with a wet rag. Then I drizzled (or plopped, depending on how hard I squeezed) a good amount of Tacky Glue on the pegboard, trying not to get too close to the edges. I used the rag to help spread it around more. Then I carefully spread the fabric out, trying to get it straight and get the bubbles out.

Once the middle is set, I worked around each edge to run a bead of glue and fold the fabric to fit inside the sides.

And voila!

I might add some yellow details on the fabric, too, with some yellow acrylic I have sitting around.

I had to buy the Tacky Glue, but that's kind of an investment, right? And since the spray paint
didn't work out
I'll save for another project, the cost is essentially $14 for the shelf and fabric. Not too bad!

Now I just have to figure out where to put it . . .

Update: I wasn't satisfied with the edge after all, so I'm going to add a ribbon to cover the edge and make the blue details in the fabric pop:

What do you think? What new kind of project do you want to take on? Or, if you don't have anything to say about that, wish my youngest a happy birthday. She turned one yesterday!