Happy Monday! I thought I'd switch things up a bit and start a new series called "Make It Mondays" where I show you my DIY projects.

This week, I'm showing you a super easy project that you can do with Ikea picture frames and some brass corners (and little teeny nails). I got the idea when I read through a DIY frame idea by Courtney at A Thoughtful Place. She used painters tape to create her corners and they turned out fabulous!

Here is her finished product (link to her blog post can be found here):

After seeing this, I thought about it more and wondered if they sold brass corners. Through some digging around via Google, I found some really cute brass corners! When they came in the mail though, they had no nails to go with them. I had to scour the internet once again and after visiting a few hardware stores that didn't sell that small of a nail, I found them online.

The frames I used were RIBBA but I just checked the IKEA website and they don't carry the size I have which I believe is an 11x14 and they also don't carry the color black...

 First, I glued the corners to the picture frames to keep them steady when I was going to add the nails in. I used a rock hammer to nail in the nails because a full sized hammer was way too big.


The nails were really delicate so if I hit it too hard, they bent.

 Then, I'd have to pull them out with pliers. I did this quite a few times. Each corner had 2 holes, 6 total. I only hammered in the first two on the front of the frame.


Pulling these little nails out was super tricky too. The frames are made of compacted wood and were somewhat tough to nail through but I did it!

A year or so ago, I had finished an Ikea hack with my coffee table (post can be seen here). Recently, I had run into this amazing marble adhesive paper and I thought it would love FABULOUS if I combined the two...
Gold and Marble? YESSSSSSSS.
Have you ever seen a little kid who can't handle their happiness when they are super happy? Well, that was me when I got this fabulous item in the mail.

You can find the marble adhesive paper here
DC Fix 346-0306 Adhesive Film, Grey Marble

They have a couple of different colors and styles of this paper. I chose the traditional white/gray color. As I was in the store yesterday, I also found it in the area that has shelf liner (kitchen stuff). The adhesive cost me $10 on Amazon but at Rite Aid, it was about $6. I also assume Home Depot has the same stuff there too...

The table comes with a dark wood leaf and two glass panels (one for the smaller table and one for the top panel of the long table). Sorry for the flash-y picture. I have to take pictures at night at times since my little one keeps me busy during the day.

This roll of marble paper is FABULOUS! Up close, its slightly pixelated but who is really going to look at it that closely...besides, if you throw an Instagram filter on it, no one will know the difference! ;)

I wiped the top down and then applied it according to the directions. It doesn't require any additional adhesive and according to the directions, if you start to see air bubbles, you can just pull it up and reapply. The roll comes with about two applications (for the Ikea Vittsjo table) if you wanted to just do it over again.

I wanted to cover the back side of the top (its black) so I could retain the dark wood look should I decide to shoot something on it but I accidentally covered to dark wood and I'm too lazy to try to recover it. I'll try it soon though. Promise!


Here is what the uncovered side looks like...
I've since moved the marble to the top so that I can access it easier instead of having to remove everything on it to take 1 picture. I am IN LOVE with this! We don't have marble counter-tops (yet) but this is a super easy fix in the meantime. I absolutely love looking at everyone's Instagram shots that are prettily styled on marble!

If you have this table and have painted it gold, has anyone had issues with their gold paint coming off? I've got nicks and scratches everywhere and I don't think I bump into it that much...

You can find the marble adhesive paper here
DC Fix 346-0306 Adhesive Film, Grey Marble

This project has been added to MadefromPinterest's Link Party. Check it out here!

1. Currently adding to an Ikea Hack I'd completed. Loving this marble..... or is it marble?

2. Reminiscing about the Stitch Fix event. Debating on taking the plunge and doing a subscription service. What subscription services do you recommend?

3. Visited with a girlfriend. It was SO NICE to have adult interaction. Most of the time, I speak baby.

4. I made a big ass cookie for the hubs and I. I think it's micro baking has become my Friday night ritual.

5. Doing a closet cleanout and debating on starting an Instagram handle to sell it all.

6. Played the Powerball lottery and lost. Maybe if I keep playing, someday I'll win? Momma wants A LOT of shoes. You know what they say, "you can't win, if you don't play..."

Hope you all had a great weekend!

I've been dying to use my sewing machine and silhouette cameo cutter for a while now. A few years ago, Chris bought me a sewing machine and I took a class on how to sew with a pattern and hadn't used it since! I could barely sew in a straight line much less try to follow a pattern. So, when I came across a youtube video on how to make a pillow, I thought this would be a perfect simple project to get back into the swing of things.

I have a stockpile of striped fabric from Ikea which is great for upholstery projects. I also found some iron-on vinyl online and used the my cutter to cut out the letters. Since it had been a little while since I'd sewed, it took a bit to get used to the feel of the machine again and re-learning how to thread the machine. I was also super paranoid about not sewing in a straight line but it turned out well! The vinyl was a little more frustrating of a task. The first piece of vinyl didn't cut so well on the vinyl setting so I had to adjust to a blade of 6. And even then, I had to scrape some of the curves because there were stubborn areas that wouldn't come off! I was really paranoid about melting the plastic to the pillow. In the directions, the vinyl is supposed to take on the texture of the fabric you're attaching it to and mine is still shiny BUT its definitely on there! I think I even melted the top of the second L slightly after following the 25 second rule.

And here is my finished product! Aaaaand... our baby name reveal! Can't wait to meet Baby Lily soon!

I was really pleased with the way it turned out and now have the itch to sew more pillows! Maybe someday, I'll work up the nerve to do clothes again!



Here are some of the resources I used to make this pillow:

It all started with a bar cart. And I'm still on the hunt for that. 

Since "The Draper Room" has a modern vibe, it was decided that our current furniture needed assessment. Chris's coffee tables were from his twenties: an old, scratchy wooden number complete with matching scratchy, wooden and outdated end table. I debated on trying to give them a facelift but ultimately, we decided that we needed some new ones.

Keeping with the "Hollywood-Regency-meets-Don-Draper" theme, I began searching for glass and brass furniture on Craigslist, estate sales and wherever else I could find said table without breaking the bank. Most brass tables go for about $150+ in my area. I'm looking to spend $100 or less. Full priced items online were way out of my price range, running as high as several thousands of dollars. Sheesh.

I'm a GIGANTE fan of Pinterest and find a lot of inspiration as I'm sure all of you do too. I came across some really great Ikea hack ideas and decided that (for now) I would purchase a glass and metal coffee table and transform it into brass!

I chose the Ikea Vittsjo Nesting Table because when extended, it was just about the length of our previous table. I especially love that there is a second level where I can put magazines, vases and flowers.

We finally found a house! We will be calling this lovely gem home until we buy a house in a few years. It is situated in an older community which is a change considering we lived in a college town for a year. Peace. Quiet. Weird. I'm definitely getting older and enjoy less rowdy neighborhoods. Although, it was funny to hear 2am drunken debauchery every weekend.

Our new humble abode is almost twice the size of the condo that we lived in. I am in LOVE with the white kitchen and am currently trying to find a fun rug to give it a giant pop of color.

We also have a FABULOUS backyard with fruit trees, a pool and spa! The mister has already created yummy concoctions  for me with the grapefruit that is growing in abundance (recipe post will follow soon!). I definitely foresee backyard dinner parties, happy hour cocktail nights and other social events here very soon! Chris and I love to have people over and are very excited to start picking out backyard furniture!

I am currently obsessed with decorating our new digs. We have two living rooms and have already designated two different feels: one is the TV room (even though we really don't watch TV) where we could host movie nights and the second is my baby... I'd like to call it "The Draper Room." Those that know me know I'm a Mad Men junkie. I love the story lines (well, Don Draper's line really needs to change - but that's for another post), the styling of the sets, and what everyone wore. Since this living room is connected to the kitchen, it is all white and faces into the backyard. It has that Hollywood Regency-laidback-California-lifestyle feel. If Don Draper lived in California, this would be his house hands down!


Here is my inspiration board for said room. I've already found a couple of tables and am working on posts for them.