{New Favorite Material: Burlap}

It's official - I have found my new favorite material to work with...burlap. There are so many possibilities, I love the color options, the texture, and surprisingly, I love the smell of it. Something about it reminds me of the fall and the renaissance fair that we used to have in elementary school. I think we used to make little coin purses out of burlap and for some reason, that memory stands out as a sweet one in my mind - I know, kind of odd.

I have seen a lot of burlap projects on Pinterest and other blogs and I had the perfect spot in my new house for a cute interior style wreath. The wall was blank and you can see it from every corner of the house it seems. Its right at the bottom of the stairs and around the corner is the kitchen so it definitely needed a little character. Not only did I LOVE how this wreath turned out, I LOVED how minimal the supplies were needed to complete it - as well as how versatile it is (you will see more about THAT below).

I started off with a wire hanger (stole it off of my husband's dry cleaned shirt - I don't iron, don't even own an ironing board so we have lots of wire hangers from dry cleaners around my house). I bought two yards of the caramel color burlap from Hobby Lobby as well as two cute clippy flowers. The burlap was about 7.00 dollars and the little clippy bows were about $3.00 a piece. For those of you who are near Hobby Lobby, you know you don't shop there without a coupon! I think my total came out to right under 10.00 dollars once I was all checked out.

I started by cutting strips of burlap between 5-6 inches. I didn't measure - I just started cutting.



Once all of the burlap was cut - I undid my wire hanger and worked with it a bit to get it in a circular shape. I then took the hanger and started threading it through the burlap and gathering it in my hand as I pushed the hanger end through the burlap. It seemed to work well to hold the burlap that I had already pushed on when trying to get the hanger to go through the next bend - I am not sure if that makes a lot of sense but hopefully the picture below will show you what I mean and you will understand if/when you make this wreath.




Once I had finished the wreath - I played it with a bit to make sure it was even in terms of where it was bunched up and took some hot glue and dabbed it on a few pieces to keep it weighted properly.



And now for the explanation of the versatility of this wreath..once the hot glue process was done, I took my little flower clippies and put them off to the right hand side of my wreath just by clipping them on. You could use any flower and could hot glue them on if you would like but I loved the idea of the little clippies because I, too, have Design ADD like our guest blogger and thought that I might want to change them out at some point for holidays or even if I decide to float this wreath into another room in my house - maybe I will finally get to use the color yellow!

annnnnnd Whalla! The wreath is done and hanging on the wall!



I love the rustic look it adds to my house! Email me with any questions - you can't fail at this project - I don't care how crafty or non-crafty you are - give it a try and I know you will be happy with the outcome! It could also make a great inexpensive Christmas gift - the holidays are just around the corner - yikes!

sincerely fabuless, Las Vegas.

{Fabuless Floral Arrangement!}

How many of you have ever wanted to give a friend or family member some flowers? Maybe for mother's day...a friend's birthday..a bridal shower..a new baby..and the list goes on. I'm not sure if any of you have ever checked the prices of professional floral arrangement and delivery services, but they are pricey! For those of us living on a tight budget but still wanting to give a little something special to our friends and family members..I came up with a fun and fairly simple idea :)

A paper floral arrangement!

I like buying fun prints and colors of paper when I see them on sale, and then I have some on hand for fabuless projects! My good friend Tia just had a baby boy named Simon, and I wanted to create a floral arrangement to accompany the meal I brought her family once they arrived home from the hospital. They happen to LOVE Halloween, and because their little guy was born pretty close to this amazingly fun and spooky holiday..I went with a Halloween theme. I hadn't done anything like this before, so I just started cutting and grabbing materials I had nearby. I used cardboard strips bent in half for the stems and paper cut into different sizes of squares for the flower itself and also for the leaf on the flower. I layers the squares with the smallest size on top..and made a cut in the middle of each and also from each corner to the center. I then bent the paper to give it a petal effect and shape it a bit. Take a look at the pictures below:

Once I had my flowers made, I found a medium sized vase and filled the bottom with black tissue paper (Halloween theme, remember). I then started to add a full sheet of tissue paper by pushing the center in, while still leaving room in the middle to push the stems down...once I had the flowers in, there was a lot of tissue paper spilling out under them (which looked pretty cool) I decided to make it a bit more scary by cutting it into strips and trimming it...it looked kind of like spider legs at this point. Yes!

Once I had that done, I needed to add something to the vase itself. I decided to wrap it in a sheer black ribbon, and then finished it off by attaching a "Welcome Baby Simon" cut out to the front. So fun! Check it out...




There are lots of different things you can do with this paper floral arrangement idea. Using different colors for the different holidays or seasons...adding in some fun elements like pipe cleaners or pipe cleaners wrapped in ribbon..other strands of beads...mixing it all together in a bigger or smaller arrangement. So, next time you're thinking of purchasing some flowers for someone, save some money with this fabuless idea! Let us know how it goes! :)

sincerely fabuless, the windy city.

{Guest Blogger: To the Bedroom and Beyond!}

Today I am totally pumped to introduce to you my very best friend.. Allyson Drake! She has always been the most crafty person I know. We lived together during college and she was always coming up with fun ideas for her bedroom and our living area. She's smart and thrifty and has a great eye for style. She is the absolute best and everything she does is such a hit! When I asked her about being a guest blogger for us, she was really excited to contribute some of her latest ideas. We will be privileged to hear from her a couple of times each month, so be on the lookout for Allyson's must see projects!

Guest Blogger: {Allyson Drake, White Textured Duvet Cover}

Since moving out to Philly just over a year ago I’ve slowly been decorating and then re-decorating the majority of our apartment. {Anyone else have decorating A.D.D.?} In that time I have never really started our bedroom. So after many nights falling asleep with dreams of paint, duvets, and drapes {oh my!} and after many more nights of of pinning…I’m jumping into it and bringing you along with me in a quest for a Fabuless bedroom!

The first item of business… Bedding.

I really wanted to design a room around the bedding, not the bedding around the room. So I searched everywhere and decided I really like white textured bedding, namely these:

Here, Here, & Here

The tutorial from Made By Lex is amazing and easy to understand. I did do a few things differently...

ONE.
I bought a gathering foot on Amazon.com for $10. Best decision I’ve ever made. Have you gathered fabric by hand? Not fun. And having to do a whole duvet’s worth of gathering by hand? Didn’t want to find out how fun that was. If you’re going to do this project or something like it {maybe THIS ruffled shower curtain???}, I highly recommend it.
To see how it works, watch THIS tutorial.

...but skip ahead 5 minutes into it. You’re welcome.

TWO.
I used wider ruffled strips. My huz wasn’t keen on a ruffled duvet, because he’s a man and all, but I convinced him wider strips would make it less ruffled and less girly. Did it really? Eh, maybe. But does he like how it turned out? Yes.

THREE.
I used thinner flat strips in between the gathered strips. I wanted less attention on those, more attention on the ruffles. Just for fun, here are my strip dimensions: 5 gathered rows at 18” (cut at 19 to allow for ½” seam allowances), 4 flat rows are 1” (cut at 2”).

FOUR.
Instead of using three Queen sheets to make a Queen duvet {as directed in the tutorial}, I used a clearance King Duvet {$18} and 4 Ikea Knoppa twin sheets {$4 each. One of which I already had}. I made my ruffled “sheet” with the Ikeas, dissected the King duvet and cut it down a little bit, attached the ruffled sheet to the duvet, sewed the duvet back together, gently shoved our old bedspread inside, and VOILA!



What do you think?!?

We are loving it, loving the Fabuless price of about $35 {not counting the gathering foot…that’s an “investment” right?} and are excited to keep things rolling with the rest of the room. Thanks Fabuless Girls for letting me share! See you again soon.

sincerely fabuless, Allyson in Philly.

I am in love with this duvet cover. Our sophomore year of college I actually had Allyson make me a twin duvet cover for my bed. I picked out some funky fresh fabrics and she whipped it up like it was nothing (even though she had never made one before). Her first duvet cover was awesome, and this most recent one is so beautiful. Thanks for sharing Allyson! Your bedroom is well on its way to being featured in the next issue of Pottery Barn. We are excited to see what you do next!

For those who are itching to re-decorate their bedroom without spending $300 on bedding..give this duvet cover a try, and please let us know how it goes. Also, Allyson is willing to give more detailed instructions or answer any questions you may have, so just leave a comment if you'd like some more information!

{Our First Giveaway: Luv Luv Designs by MadiesCrafts}

I am excited to announce our very first Live Life Fabulessly giveaway! Recently, while pursuing the Facebook world I came across a link on an old friend's Facebook page. Madeline and I attended both church and school together through high school. Again, this is what I LOVE about technology - you are able to stay connected with so many people. It is especially rewarding when you are a stay at home Mom - its like having a little window into what is going on in the outside world :)

As you will see, Madeline is very talented and has created these super cute hats for little ones and has been generous enough to offer us one of the cute little elf hats as a giveaway for you! This hat will be so cute during the quickly approaching holiday season!

Here is what you can do to enter:

Head over to Luv Luv Designs by Madiescrafts on Etsy and leave a comment on this blog post to tell us which one of the little hats is your favorite (this will be one entry). You can get a second entry by becoming a fan of Luv Luv Designs on Facebook! We will announce the winner of the giveaway promotion on November 1st. When you leave a comment, make sure your name and email is linked or posted so we can contact you if you win!

A Note from Madeline:

I have recently rediscovered a long lost love for yarn and crocheting! My mother taught me to crochet sometime in elementary school, probably as a way to give me a quiet activity during those long summer vacation months! Anyway along with rediscovering my long lost hobby, I also stumbled upon Etsy which gives me a great outlet for all the hats I enjoy making, and thus Luv Luv Designs was born. The inspiration for the name comes from my 4 year old’s stuffed giraffe of the same name, and the inspiration for the hats comes from my being pregnant and obsessed with making adorable things for babies! I enjoy searching the web for new design ideas so I am constantly adding new things to my Etsy shop. So come check out my shop! Tell your friends! And if there is something in particular you are looking for, please message me as I am always willing to custom make pieces.

Thank you Madeline! We are so excited to see who will be the winner of the cute elf hat! Be sure to get your entries in before November 1st!

sincerely fabuless, Las Vegas.

{Placemat to Clutch}

My fabuless sister in Las Vegas found a fun project for turning placemats into clutches. She suggested that I give it a try, so I kept an eye out for placemats when I went to Marshall's one day. I found three great placemats and spent a total of about $2.50! I pulled out some fun accent pieces that I bought a few years ago and hadn't found a use for yet, and added those to the clutches as well...fabuless! Take a look at what I was able to create:

This project took me a total of about an hour or less! These Clutches would be great to give as gifts this holiday season as well! Something cute and practical with a fun and personal touch! Give it a try and let us know how it goes! Thank you "Happy Together" blog for this fun idea!

Click here to get step by step instructions for your clutch!

sincerely fabuless, the windy city.

{Garage Sale Find: End Tables from the 1940s}

From my one of my earlier posts, you may know that I love rummaging through yard sales on Saturday mornings. You also may know that I am new to the "art" of shopping yard sales successfully so I am still experiencing those newbie jitters every time I find something really neat for really cheap. It seriously is a rush to see something interesting as you are driving up to a yard sale and then try to quickly park the car and "casually" speed walk up to the sale before someone else grabs that item you are eyeing.

In this case, I couldn't see these cute tables from the street, but as I walked up to the yard, I honed in on them. The lady running the sale was really nice and was excited to sell them to me. They were in her mother's home and date back to sometime in the 1940s. Because I told her that I was going to update them and use them in my house, she sold both of them to me for 15 dollars! (Fabuless!)

As you can see from this picture, the tables were okay "as is" but they had the type of finish on them that I remember in my elementary school lunch room. Not really the look that I am trying to achieve in my home.

I really wanted to give these tables a pop of color so that they would stand out. My husband is addicted to blue, so when I asked what color I should paint them, he said he wanted them to be an aqua blue. I am totally loving the aqua blue colored couch on Good Luck Charlie on Disney Channel so he won this round. I had originally envisioned them as yellow, but maybe my next project will get a fresh coat of yellow - you will just have to wait and see! :)

I started to do some research on different distressing techniques. I usually distress by waiting for the paint to dry and then putting stain over it to then just wipe it off and leave a little bit of a residue. While I love the way this turns out, I wanted to diversify my technique and try something different.

I started by sanding down the tables to take that awful gloss off and dull the laminate finish. If you are painting over laminate, yes, you can sand it, and yes, you should sand it, just be careful not to sand too much. You can tell that you have sanded just enough when the color is dull. It really does make a difference when you go to paint if you have sanded it before applying the paint.

Once the tables were sanded, I painted both of the tables with a brown paint color that I picked up at Sherwin Williams. The best part about having two tables is that I can show you the before and after of each step!



Once I had painted both of the tables the brown color from Sherwin Williams, I decided that I still wanted them to be a darker brown (you will see why later on in the post). Once the paint had dried, I went over the paint with a Walnut Stain to darken it up a bit



I let the stain dry over night and headed back out to my garage during preschool time the next day to finish up my project.

I went over the tables with Intense Teal by Sherwin Williams. (NOTE - when you are buying paint to do a small table or project, do not buy the can unless you think you will use the color on multiple projects. You can buy the small jars or sample cans usually for between 3 - 6 dollars - much cheaper!).

I am a very impatient person so watching paint dry is one of my biggest challenges. I just want to see how my projects will turn out and really have a hard time waiting for each step to process before moving on to the next. Once I put my kids to bed that night, I went back out to the garage and started my new favorite distressing technique!

I bought a package of steel wool from Wal-mart - not the fine grade, you need medium to coarse. I took the steel wool and just started rubbing all over the tables to take off some of the teal paint and expose the undercoat of brown (now you understand why I painted with brown and stained before I applied the blue paint). I used a sanding sponge and went around the edges to give the tables that perfect distressed/banged up look. The best part of this step is that it doesn't have to be perfect. If you want it more heavily distressed on top and less on the legs, by all means, go for it! Also, if you want a different color to show through, for instance, yellow underneath and blue on top, instead of the brown, you would do 2-3 coats of yellow before applying the blue.

And now for the big reveal - my finished tables all set up in my NEW house (Yes, we finally moved in and are loving our new home - look forward to lots of new projects showcasing my new space!)





If you have any questions about this project, feel free to leave a comment or send us an email!

sincerely fabuless, Las Vegas.

{Cute in a Kid's Room!}

I just recently joined Pinterest and I have already been inspired by so many creative ideas out there! I love seeing what other people are doing! One of my recent favorites was a fun wall decor idea for a kid's room. The only materials you need are some embroidery hoops (various sizes..all about $1.00 each), fabric (in different patterns/colors), and all-purpose glue (I use Tacky Glue). All you do is cut the fabric down to size and put it in the embroidery hoops. Once it's in, you'll need to trim up the fabric and glue down the edge to the inside of the embroidery hoop. After that, you just need to arrange your hoops on the wall of your choice! Totally quick and easy! I went and got a few hoops to try it out and have put them up on a small wall space in my daughter's room. I'm thinking I'll probably add more or rearrange them in the future, but this is what I've done so far...

Check out the original design found on Pinterest! Click Here!

sincerely fabuless, the windy city.

{A Mommy Favorite: Diapers.com}

I think all moms can agree that it'd be much easier to get a large case of diapers for a good price, and have it delivered right to their door rather than spending more money on smaller quantities or buying the large box and having to haul it home on their own. Living in Chicago and not having a car, having my diapers delivered is pretty much my only option. That's where Diapers.com comes in! My friend Anne, who knows the ins and outs of the windy city after living here for over a year now, actually told me about this amazing website! If you spend $49 or more, there is no shipping fee, which is fabuless!

I typically buy at least one case of diapers -- on average about $35, and then like every other mom, I remember I need a couple of other items. I've gotten great storage trays for freezing homemade baby food, Lansinoh disposable nursing pads, and organic baby food..just to name a few items. When you create an account you can opt to receive email updates with coupon codes and being a member allows you to get a $5.00 discount on every box of diapers, every time! Diapers.com typically has a great deal going for lots of different products, so be sure to have a look around before you checkout! They really do "deliver everything but the baby"!

And..after you've unloaded your purchases, you can hang on to the box for future crafts (see 'Modern Meets Vintage: Wreath') or to use as a play item for your little one. I know my little Cora enjoys playing with boxes! Take a look..

Try out Diapers.com! When you find great deals other moms will love, feel free to pass it on by leaving a comment!

Here's a few deals that you might want to try from Diapers.com:

Buy 1 Plum Organics 6pk, Get 2nd 50% off. Code: PLUMHALF

Take an Extra 20% off on all Halloween Costumes. Core: 20MORE

$10 Off 1st Order of $49+ plus $5 Off on Every Case of Diapers. Code: GR8DEALA

sincerely fabuless, the windy city.

{Little Leg Warmers!}

The weather is starting to get chilly here in Chicago..it is definitely called the windy city for a reason! On those extra chilly days, I like to put leg warmers on my little girl. They keep her legs warmer (hence the name) and look super cute!

I was first introduced to baby leg warmers by my good friend Allyson, who will actually be a guest blogger in the near future (keep an eye out for that!). She gave me a few pairs of homemade leg warmers at my baby shower. They were by far my favorite gift! Knowing that I also enjoy being crafty, she included an additional pair of socks that hadn't been made into leg warmers yet, so I could try it out. It's been almost a year since my shower, and I just got around to making those socks into leg warmers this past week. Finally!

So, to start..you'll need a pair of women's long socks. I get mine from target. The Xhilaration brand are at most about $2.50 a pair..some are even $1.50 or less! They have lots of cute prints and colors. Once you have your socks..you'll need to cut them. The first cut should be about 10 inches down from the top of the socks. At this point, the bottom portion should look like an ankle sock. With this bottom portion, you'll need to cut the 3 inches out of the middle to use for your leg warmers. So, you will NOT need the toe or ankle of the sock...just the middle..and the 10 inch leg portion. If I've totally confused you at this point, view the pictures below:

Now, you'll need to attach the bottom to the top. Turn the 10 inch leg portion inside out and fold the unfinished edge up about 1/2 an inch on each sock. Take the 3 inch portion and fold (roll) it in half, print side out. It should now be about 1 1/2 inches in length. When sewing, you will hold the 3 unfinished edges together. So, slide the 1 1/2 inch section up onto the leg portion and line up the 3 unfinished edges (1 from leg portion, 2 from bottom portion). Start sewing and keep re-aligning as you go around. When you're finished going around, turn the sock inside out and you have a cute leg warmer! Repeat with the second sock and any others socks you're using. It may seem somewhat confusing, but you'll get the hang of it once you get started!

See how they turned out:



I loved receiving cute leg warmers at my baby shower, and I plan to use this quick and fabuless idea for gifts in the future! They are easy to dress up too...



For those of you who don't have a sewing machine, or who don't feel quite up to this fabuless leg warmer project..I do make and sell leg warmers as well, so just let me know if you're interested by emailing us at cjones014@gmail.com.

sincerely fabuless, the windy city.

{Fabuless Pumpkin Bars!}

Living in a condo, I put in work orders when things need to be fixed, and a member of our building's maintenance team comes to attempt to fix the problem. This week was a continuation of the ongoing kitchen sink issue. Bubbling and gurgling are never good verbs to associate with a kitchen sink. I was told I could be expecting maintenance and a plumber in the afternoon sometime, to avoid interrupting my daughter's morning nap..how nice of them to consider that right? To my dismay, a knock sounded at the door at about 9:45 am, just as I was about to lay her down. Luckily she stayed asleep through all the commotion. She woke up when they left and after about 3 hours of playing and hanging out, it was time for nap #2. I was rocking her to sleep when I heard a knock at the door...

Yes, the maintenance men were back! What! Why! No! were my exact thoughts at that moment. The day continued to go downhill as I had three more poorly timed knocks at my door before all was said and done. Did I mention that I was exhausted from the night before and a quick nap while my daughter napped would have been heavenly? The only thing I could do to improve my day was to...you guessed it, make pumpkin bars! My mom's pumpkin bars have an amazing 180 effect! They can turn your not so amazing day right around!.. and good news, they are actually really easy to make! Plus, they have less calories..making them fabuless!

Mom's Pumpkin Bars:

4 eggs
1 2/3 C sugar
1 C applesauce
1 can pumpkin
2 C flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda

Frosting:
1 pkg cream cheese, softened
1/2 C butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
2 C sifted powdered sugar

Beat together eggs, sugar, applesauce, and pumpkin until light and fluffy. Stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda. Add to pumpkin mixture and mix thoroughly. Spread in 15x10x1 inch pan (jelly roll pan). Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes (top should be a light golden brown) When cool, frost with cream cheese frosting.

Directions: Cream together cream cheese and butter. Stir in vanilla. Add powdered sugar in small amounts. Beat until smooth.
**I like to put the pan in the refrigerator for a few hours or even overnight to be completely sure they will be nice and cool when frosting. It really makes all the difference! Check out a picture of my pumpkin bars from this week:

After a not so amazing day, the pumpkin bars really made all the difference. My husband and I have continued to enjoy them over the past few days...maybe a little too much! The fall is the perfect time to try this recipe out! And, using applesauce instead of oil is a great substitute that doesn't make you compromise on taste! It's fabuless! Enjoy.

sincerely fabuless, the windy city.

{Guest Blogger: Inviting Entryway}

Today I am happy to introduce our very first Live Life Fabulessly Guest Blogger - Erica Bates. Erica and I went to high school together in Virginia and thanks to the Internet, we have been able to stay in touch and have remained close friends across the country and through the years.

Last week, Erica posted a photo on Facebook of a dresser that she had bought off of Craigslist and refinished as her very first refinishing project. I must say, it looks fabuless! I loved the way that it turned out and wanted to share it with all of you. I asked Erica if she would be willing to write a post on the "how to" of this dresser so you can get the motivation (and maybe confidence) to refinish a piece of furniture of your own.

Thank you Erica!

Guest Blogger: {Erica Renner, Refinished Dresser}

If I’m lucky, I get two hours each afternoon to myself. I am a mother of two young boys. One is almost six months old and one just turned three. Typically during my free time I, cook/prepare for dinner, clean, bake cakes, or take an occasional nap. I am very lucky that I get to stay at home with my children but some days it’s much harder than others! I recently discovered Pinterest and I’m in love! I love looking at all the different design ideas! After reading an article this summer in The Family Circle magazine I really wanted to try re-doing/repainting a piece of furniture. Pinterest has a lot of good ideas and then Candace started a blog that featured a piece of furniture that she re-did. I decided it was “go” time! I found a great looking dresser for 55 dollars on craigslist, here in Charlotte. The dresser had a mirror attached to it as well. Something that made me very excited because I wanted to get a mirror to put above the dresser anyway! Here is what the dresser looked like when I picked it up.

To get it in my Pilot we needed to take it part. So off came the mirror and the “U” that held the mirror onto the dresser. It was too late to do anything the night I picked it up and brought it home but the next day during naps, I was able to sand it. My husband was traveling that night and I was so excited to continue working on my project, I primed it after the kids went to bed. The next day during naps I popped open my can of paint and started painting! I absolutely LOVED the color I picked! As I painted each part of the dresser, I got more and more excited. The color I picked was called “Deepest Aqua,” a Behr Ultra (paint-primer) paint. Again since I can only work while my kids sleep, (for 2 hours from 2-4 or 8:30-10:30) I had to wait to stain/distress the next day.

I was not sure which method I wanted to use to distress it, so I spent the night researching. I loved how the dresser looked with the new paint color, so I didn’t want to ruin it when I was trying give it that distressed look.

During naptime on day three I worked on distressing the dresser and sanding and priming the mirror. I sanded some of the edges on the dresser and around the drawers, giving it a more worn look. After I sanding the edges I prepped my stain-wax mix. I read that mixing stain and wax gives you a little more time than just stain when you are trying to achieve a distressed look. I did a 3:1 mixture, wax to stain. Even with the wax, since I was working outside I had to work in sections so it didn’t dry on too much. I did the top first. I was so nervous when I made my first paint stroke, what if I ruin it? I was so close to being done! I figured that the dresser was only 55 dollars and with the paint supplies I wouldn’t be out too much if I did ruin it! ☺
I am so happy with how it turned out! I love the distressed look of the stain/wax along with the sanded edges!

I ended up replacing the knobs on the dresser as well. The first ones I picked out from Home Depot I hated! They looked awful!! Luckily we have a neighborhood hardware store a few miles away! I went there and it was like knob heaven! They had at least five times as many knobs as Home Depot and Lowes! Carson, my 3 year-old, helped me pick out some great brushed gold knobs! They completed the look of the dresser perfectly! I LOVE LOVE LOVE how it turned out!

I mentioned that I starting sanding and priming the mirror that I look off this dresser after I distressed it. While I was at the hardware store I took a look around the paint department. I picked up two “oops” quarts of paint for 2 bucks each! SCORE! One was a charcoal gray and the other was a creamy neutral white, I mixed the two together to get a great gray! After two coats of paint I was able to sand, stain, and distress the mirror. My husband attached some ring hooks to the back and it was ready to go! I love how it turned out as well!

Mirror Before

Mirror After

To add to the look I added some of my husband’s books, three burlap letter blocks (I made), two ceramic pumpkins I found at a local home consignment store, and a chalkboard frame (I also made). I love the pop of color it brought to the entryway of our home!

I can’t wait to start on my next project!

sincerely fabuless, Erica in Charlotte.

Thank you Erica for providing us with this great tutorial and blog post - I can't wait to see your next project! P.S. - I love how you can see your baby monitor in the picture next to your frame - that is so me! I put the kids to bed, grab the monitor and hit the garage!

We hope to provide Guest Bloggers regularly because we all learn best when we learn from each other. If you are interested in being a guest blogger and have a project or tip you would like to share, email us at cjones014@gmail.com.

{Modern Meets Vintage: Wreath}

'tis the season for wreaths! In my 24 years, I have not yet taken on a wreath project (unless you count the wreath ornament I made when I was about seven years old), so I figured it was about time. As I thought about what type of wreath I'd like to make, I only knew one thing for sure..I wanted to incorporate fabric into it in some way. I also decided that it might be fun to do a rectangular wreath rather than a circular one..lines add a modern element to design, and we love modern!
With that in mind..I pulled out a moving box stuffed under our bed, and started cutting. For any others out there who have recently moved, I'm sure you have a box nearby that you can use for this! Here are a few pictures of the beginning process:

Once I had my shape all *squared away, I pulled out my craft supplies and got to work picking out fabrics and other materials that would work well together. I decided on using vintage-like colors and also some actual vintage materials (facing from the 1970s). With my pile of materials in order, I started cutting about 14"x 1" strips (depending on the material). You can change up the length and width depending on what you're going for. With strips in hand, I started tying..and tying..and tying..here's what my wreath looked like about half way through:


After some more tying, tucking, twisting..and tying..I felt satisfied. Take a look at the finished product:



This wreath is great all year round. It can be displayed vertically or horizontally. You'll notice I also have some ribbon tied around my flour and sugar jars underneath the wreath. Adding little touches like that really gives your space something extra. You can use any colors or textures you'd like. My advice..it's great to mix lots of different items. For example, I used cotton fabric, string, ribbon, and some facing materials..


Give it a try and let us know how it turns out! Start tying!

sincerely fabuless, the windy city.

{Apple Dumplings Darling}

With fall comes some of my most favorite things..leaves changing colors, football games, and delicious treats and snacks to eat while watching football games! One of the absolute best is a recipe passed on to me by my mother-in-law. What do you get when you combine Mountain Dew with apples and crescent rolls?..something delicious.

Apple Dumplings
(a quick and easy treat!)

Ingredients:
2 cans crescent rolls
2 granny smith apples (peel and core) - 8 apple slices from each apple
2 sticks butter (yes..a lot of butter..but it's so tasty!)
1 1/2 C sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 can Mountain Dew

Butter 8x13/9x13 pyrex pan. Roll apple slices into crescent rolls (one slice per roll) and place in pan. On the stove top, melt the butter, and then add in the sugar and vanilla. Pour mixture over crescent rolls (in pan). *It's okay if the mixture is somewhat lumpy after heating on stove top. Pour can of Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan. Bake on 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Serve with vanilla ice cream and enjoy!

It should look a little something like this...

Try out this recipe at your next family get together or football party! Let us know how it goes!

sincerely fabuless, the windy city.

{Super Easy: Autumn Wreath}

I have been on the hunt for an autumn wreath for the inside of my house and haven't found anything that I love (at least not for a price that I love).

A few months back, I saw a wreath that was made for Easter using that dreaded paper grass. Maybe it is because I am a product of my mother who hates things that make a mess, but I try avoid easter grass. It is basically a large clump of confetti and the minute it comes out of the bag, it starts to expand and scatter. No matter how quickly I try pick it up after the easter baskets are revealed, I still find strands of it under my couch 6 months later.

Taking on a craft that uses Easter grass, well let's just say, I was a little nervous.

While on one of my many trip to Michael's Arts & Crafts recently, I saw a bag of autumn colored grass. I tried to look the other way, not sure I was ready to take on this craft, but ultimately, I bought it and am happy that I did. Yes, it was a little bit of a mess, but nothing that my broom and vacuum couldn't fix.

To Make this Wreath you will need:

- 1 Styrofoam wreath ring (you can sometimes find these at the dollar store)
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Decorative grass (any colors or combinations)

Directions:

The best part of this project is that it doesn't have to be perfect. Take out your foam ring, start laying globs of hot glue and sticking on the grass. If you see a hole or a spot where you want more grass, layer it on a little thicker. I did the front of the wreath, and both the outside and inside edges, there is no need to cover the back, otherwise it will not sit correctly on the wall. I am thinking about making some burlap flowers to add a little pop to this wreath - I'll post a picture once I bedazzle it up a little bit.

So there you go - a project that is fabulessly inexpensive and shows a functional use of that Easter grass that I dread buying every year but somehow end up with three bags!

Another quick tip - styrofoam rings may be the most expensive part of this project. If you really want to be savvy, take one of your old pool noodles from the summer, cut it to the size that you want and duct tape it to create a ring. Makes for a great wreath and is thicker than most styrofoam rings you can buy at this store which will make for a real chunky wreath - fabuless!

If you make a grass wreath - send us a photo and/or leave a comment - we would love to see your ideas and projects! You can also email us at: cjones014@gmail.com

sincerely fabuless, Las Vegas.

{Baskets, Boxes, & Monkeys}

We have been in Chicago a little over a month now, and for the past month, I've been storing Cora's toys and stuffed animals in a laundry basket. Each time I'd walk into her room and see the basket, I was reminded of how much I didn't love that storage option. I decided to use a leftover box, some cute paper, ribbon, and mod podge to create an easy and inexpensive solution.

I simply covered the box with some fun paper..using different patterns/colors for the different sides, and then tied ribbon and string around the box. I created a bow by cutting into the green ribbon and directing that up, while directing the string knot down. Take a look...

Before:

After:


How am I planning to incorporate monkeys into this post? After searching and searching for the perfect rocking chair, McKay and I finally found one we both loved..a nice blend of comfort and style. The chair alone seems a bit mature for a child's room, so our solution was to add a funky pillow and Cora's sock monkey! Check it out:



It's smart and fabuless to incorporate items you already have with new additions to your living space. Mixing colors and textures will help you keep a great balance between adult and kid friendly! Try it out and let us know how it goes!

sincerely fabuless, the windy city.

{New Favorite - Soft Brown Sugar Cookies!}

I don't know about you - but once Fall hits, my brain jumps to Christmas and with Christmas comes sugar cookies. I LOVE sugar cookies but feel that they are so hit or miss. Some sugar cookies are soft, others are hard, some taste like cake, others like a cracker. I always love it when I come across a winning sugar cookie recipe and this recipe is one of those winning cookies!

I made these cookies this afternoon with my two little chefs (Evan and Owen) who wanted to make cookies for their daddy. After I took one bite, I couldn't wait to do a blog post and share this recipe with all of you! My husband walked in the door after picking up a dresser I bought at a yard sale today (BTW - a fabuless antique find for 20 dollars!), and I handed him a cookie. He took one bite, closed his eyes, and said,"this is my new favorite cookie". If any of you know us personally, you know that Brian is an amazing chef and comes from a long line of homemade wonderfulness. For him to say its his new favorite cookie is HUGE. You must try this recipe! Keep in mind - it was made with a 2 year old and 4 year old assistant so it is definitely easy to replicate.

Let me preface, if you are watching your waistline or trying to avoid delicious treats, this is the NOT the recipe for you. However, if you are looking for a cookie to make for your skinny friend that you are hoping will gain a few lbs, this just might be the right cookie to make:) In all fairness, we all deserve a cookie every now and then that is made with a lot of butter and sugar because, well, everything tastes better with butter.

I found this recipe on Pinterest - it was originally featured on: http://cafescrapper-scrapsoflife.blogspot.com/.

Soft Brown Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

2/3 c. butter, softened
1-1/2 c. brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla extract
2-1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 c. sour cream

Directions:

Blend together butter and brown sugar. Add eggs, one at a time; blend well. Add vanilla; beat until light. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with sour cream; mix well. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto non-stick or lightly greased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. Remove to a wire rack; cool. Frost with Browned Butter Frosting. Makes 2 dozen

Browned Butter Frosting
1/4 c. butter
1-1/2 c. powdered sugar
2 T. Milk

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat until it turns golden. Watch carefully as this will happen quickly. Remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar and enough milk to make a spreading consistency.

sincerely fabuless, Las Vegas.