mini makeover > thrift store wreath

Our front door has never really been naked in the three years that we've owned our humble home. And by naked, I mean wreath-less. Just add this to my list of quirks: I strongly believe in curb appeal and accessorizing your front door (consider a wreath the equivalent of a great statement necklace?).

I've rotated a few wreaths that I've bought, made, and rescued over the years; this is my latest victim...

I recently found this wreath at the local MCC thrift shop for four bucks... enormous bow included. I saw past the bow and knew it was a prime candidate for some spray paint lovin'.

(This may not be the first mini makeover that this wreath receives - I can see it being a wreath of all seasons with a fresh coat in a different colour, depending on the holiday season...)

Total Cost:

Wreath = $4.00 (local MCC Thrift Shop)

Spray paint = free (leftover from a mirror makeover // Rustoleum Painter's Touch in Green Apple)

Total = $4.00

DIY > dressed up doormat

Disclosure: I swear I haven't always spray painted everything in sight. Honest. It's only been a recent development. Also: I can't take total credit for this project. This one comes straight from the pages of one of my favourite books, Young House Love (the authors, Sherry & John Petersik, are the masters of DIY and I read their blog daily). 

 

I started with a basic doormat from Ikea (SINDAL). The next time I dress up a doormat I might look for one that is larger, one that will extend past the door frame and fill the space a bit better. But this will do for now.

Next I taped off the design (I used painter's tape, but I'm pretty sure masking tape would be fine). This was my attempt at a chevron pattern...

Further proof of my klutzy-excited behaviour: not realizing that I was low on this particular colour spray paint and having to factor in a last minute Home Depot run. Half an hour later, I was back on track...

Side note: I should have used more painters tape (along the parts I didn't mean to paint, as pointed out by the arrows above) to keep the lines crisper (is that a word?).

Total cost:

Doormat = $6.99 (SINDAL from Ikea)

Running out of spray paint = $9.47 (Rustoleum Oil Rubbed Bronze from Home Depot // similar here)

Painter's tape = already had at home
 Total = $16.46

DIY > springy wreath

Growing up, I loved (and I mean absolutely-positively-LOVED) doing crafts. There was nothing better or more satisfying than gluing odds and ends together and my mom being "impressed" with my masterpiece.

Old habits die hard, 'cause I still consider a hot glue gun and leftover craft supplies a good time. This springy wreath is a direct result of a recent glue-fest (although I'm not sure whether or not my mom is impressed with it).

All items were things I had either found in our basement storage or in my stash of craftiness... so I consider this a 'free' project (but with an estimated $15 worth of craft supplies? Not counting inflation...).  I had bought some plain wreaths from Michaels a few years ago when I was apalled at the price of store-bought wreaths, thereby full of good crafting intentions. The floral pieces were initially intended for our wedding (back in 2010), and I'm happy to have finally found a use for them.




How to:

1. Gather craft supplies. I used a plain wreath from Michael's, some floral accents, and a hot glue gun.

2. Cut floral stems to desired length.


3. Using the hot glue gun... go nuts! I had no 'vision' of what the end product would look like, just added pieces here and there until my crafty little heart was content.

4. It doesn't take long for the glue to dry - the wreath was hanging on our front door within an hour.