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Vintage Radio turned Bar Cabinet

November 25, 2014 By Jenna 76 Comments

Grunt Labor has a man cave.

Did you know that?

But really, its only been his man cave for the past three months or so.

Prior to that, it was the dumping ground for yard sale items, the kid’s toys, an outdated computer, and just crap in general.

Said crap was moved elsewhere (a.k.a. shoved in the attic) and he is finally getting the room that he deserves.

That he deserved a long time ago.

His words to me were, “Just do your thing.” when asked what he wanted done to the space.

So I’m doing my thang.

Because I like to do my thang, rather than my thing.

And I started with this vintage radio turned bar cabinet.

DIY Golden Snake Bowl

November 17, 2014 By Jenna 70 Comments

At my old house, killing snakes was at least a monthly occurrence.

There was the one time my Dad showed up, walked up the porch steps, immediately started jumping around and yelling, “JENNA, SNAKE!”

It was wrapped around a porch chair, hissing.

I killed it with a hoe.

And there was the one that liked to live inside my roof on the back of the house. Every once in a while, it would stick its head out and I could see it from the kitchen window – I could never catch him.

And then once, as I was walking down the stairs, talking to my cousin on the phone, I was met by a snake in the middle of the living room floor. I hung up, killed the snake, then called her back two minutes later.

She answered asking if I was ok. Of course, it was just a snake.

It was a nearly 100 year old farm house with lots of holes – what did you expect?

Luckily, we don’t really have any snakes to deal with around here.

Except pretty gold ones – made into a bowl.

DIY Faux Malachite Tray (For Less than $10)

November 13, 2014 By Jenna 14 Comments

Lately, I’ve been lusting.

Lusting after this malachite fabric.

I’ve kind of been dreaming and scheming to make that fabric into curtains for the living room.

But I just can’t bite the bullet yet.

But I do love malachite.

And as I was walking through the craft store the other day, plotting to make a pink and white marbled tray, I changed my mind.

Which happens often.

I would make a faux malachite tray.

And I did.

7 Unique Kitchen Island Ideas on a Budget

November 10, 2014 By Jenna 18 Comments

Increase the counter space and storage space in your kitchen with a new kitchen island – DIY style! Here are seven different kitchen island ideas on a budget that are functional and creative!

DIY Lucite Frame + Gone With the Wind Printable

November 7, 2014 By Jenna 15 Comments

I am a sucker for many things.

Laffy Taffy.

Kelly Green.

Oh, and Navy Blue or Cobalt Blue – its pretty good too.

Sausage & Biscuits.

Grunt Labor.

Cherry Coke.

Cheap Beer.

Lucite.

Good Southern Movies.

The last two are the focus of this project.

Because really who doesn’t love a little faux lucite and a good Gone With the Wind quote?

Now, let’s pair those together in this DIY Lucite Frame.

Pumpkin Place Card Holders (with Dollar Tree Pumpkins!)

November 4, 2014 By Jenna 18 Comments

I would like to thank the Dollar Tree for two things.

1. Having an abundant supply of plastic toys for me to spray paint.

2. Having cheap pumpkins that make fabulous place card holders.

I know, I said I wasn’t doing any more fall crafts, but really how can I turn down $1 pumpkins that can be made into fabulous pumpkin place card holders?

I thought you’d agree.

They are also really for my Thanksgiving tablescape coming up tomorrow, so that doesn’t really qualify as a fall craft…

5 Knock-Your-Socks-Off IKEA Tarva Hacks

November 3, 2014 By Jenna 3 Comments

Remember when I turned that IKEA Tarva three drawer dresser into an awesome drink bar?

And remember how I mentioned it was part of a challenge presented by HomeRight to five of their bloggers?

Guess what?

All five of us ROCKED this challenge.

If I do say so myself.

And now, you can vote on whose is the best.

And the winner gets $500.

And one lucky voter wins a Finish Max Pro (You just have to be a registered user on the HomeRight website to be eligible for winning the Finish Max Pro).

So……….

Obviously, I would LOVE your vote.

And greatly appreciate it.

But……

All of these girls totally kicked their challenges outta the park.

Here are all of our projects:

7 Super Simple, Super Cute Electrical Tape Crafts

October 30, 2014 By Jenna 10 Comments

What’s better than an easy and cheap craft? All seven of these electrical tape crafts are super simple, super cute, and super cheap!

Duck Tape Fringe Pillow: Dress Up Boring Pillows on the Cheap

October 28, 2014 By Jenna 52 Comments

I found a new obsession.

I know. I find a new obsession at least once a week, but I’m ADD – work with me here.

This week’s new obsession?

Duck Tape Fringe.

Especially this Duck Tape Fringe Pillow.

Free Banana Leaves Watercolor Printables

October 27, 2014 By Jenna 20 Comments

When the bathroom makeover turned into a bathroom makeover – ya know – when I removed the popcorn ceiling and that turned into a pink ceiling and that turned into needing new wall paint and then it just all turned into a full on makeover?

Well anyway, what I really really really wanted in the space was some of the Beverly Hills Hotel banana leaf / palm wallpaper.

I didn’t want it over all the walls – just like one.

But even that was outta my league – too pricey.

I really wanted to bring some of that green into my bathroom though. Let’s be honest, I love green. We all know this. There are hints of it in the living room and kitchen, and I wanted to keep that going in the bathroom.

So I searched. I searched high and low, far and wide, for some type of banana leaf / palm leaf / whatever art print.

And everything was out of my price range.

‘Cause let’s face it – I’m cheap.

And then one day I was sitting on the couch and thought to myself, “Self, you should just download that Waterlogue app that was all the rage a few months back and make your own art.”

Self responded, “YES.”

So self bought the app – she thinks it was $3 or so.

Then self went outside and took photos of her own banana tree leaves that she scored at the Haven Conference.

And then she ran them through the app.

And she had beautiful banana leaves watercolors that she used in her bathroom and is sharing with you.

How to Build a Picnic Table out of a Barn Door

October 23, 2014 By Jenna 45 Comments

Grunt Labor has lots of great project ideas.

Some of those ideas are born out of sheer creativity and genius.

Some of those ideas are born out of being annoyed by his wife’s ongoing accumulation of junk prized possessions.

This DIY picnic table made out of an old barn door was a combination of both Grunt Labor’s genius and annoyance.

Power Tools 101: How to Use a Drill

October 21, 2014 By Jenna 42 Comments

A drill is one of the most versatile power tools a person can own. The best thing about it? Learning how to use a drill isn’t hard at all. Besides it being versatile, using a drill is pretty easy.

How to Make a Lampshade & Finial (Giddy up, Cowgirl)

October 20, 2014 By Jenna 20 Comments

I’m usually really good at saying no to impulse buys.

Well, except for when something is on clearance. If its on clearance and I love it, but have absolutely no need for it, its definitely coming home with me.

I have a fabric hoarding problem as well.

Its all just so pretty and colorful and pattern-ful. (That’s totally a word.)

And so when I saw this cowgirl fabric this past spring, I had to have it.

I also had no use for it whatsoever.

Until I found this gold lamp on clearance at Target.

And I didn’t have a use for it either.

But I bought it anyway.

And then I needed a shade.

And then Kiri from i like that lamp* sent me a lampshade kit.

And then I thought of the cowgirl fabric.

And then a cowgirl lampshade was born.

And then all was right in the world.

The No Priming, No Topcoat, Way to Paint (Seriously, I’m not even kidding.)

October 16, 2014 By Jenna 46 Comments

Let’s be honest about a couple things:

1. I’m lazy on occasion.

2. I’m impatient.

How does this effect my furniture makeovers?

I hate having to prime a piece before I can put some glorious color on it.

Hate it.

I need instant gratification.

Anyone else?

And when the color is finally on, I can barely wait to get the piece back in its place.

Oh, but wait….it needs a topcoat.

That means I have to wait more.

Did I mention I was impatient?

Did I also mention I found a solution for this problem?

Well, not a solution for being lazy and impatient, but a solution for the priming and top coating.

There is a way to paint that requires no priming and no top coating.

Boom.

World altered.

IKEA Tarva Hack: Drink Bar

October 14, 2014 By Jenna 114 Comments

If you follow me on Facebook, you may remember a month or so back when I posted a picture of an unfinished three drawer chest.

HomeRight offered a challenge to their brand ambassadors.

They offered to send us one of the IKEA Tarva 3 drawer chests and then have at it.

There are three things I have never passed up in life:

1. A Good Challenge

2. Free Furniture

3. Cheap Beer

My fingers and toes and arms and legs were crossed in hopes that I would be one of the five chosen ambassadors drawn from a hat for this challenge.

And I was.

*Insert 7th grade girl squeal here, along with fist bumps.*

So what did I turn my chest into?

A drink bar.

A green one.

With pretty gold accents.

14 Classic Black and White DIY Projects for Any Space

October 7, 2014 By Jenna 7 Comments

I love color. I love kelly green and navy blue and red. And I love black and white. Why? Because it goes with kelly green and navy blue and red. Oh, and also pink and orange and purple and any other color under the sun….These 14 black and white projects can be worked into any space.

5 Easy Steps to Decorating a Bedroom

October 2, 2014 By Jenna 2 Comments

Let’s talk about the boudoir today, shall we?

What are your thoughts on decorating it? Easy? Hard? Somewhere in the middle?

Our first bedroom makeover was definitely harder for me. Or I should say, it just didn’t come together as easily as other makeovers have. That could probably be why I changed it a little more than a year later.

Since then, I’ve figured out how to decorate a bedroom in five easy steps.

Of course, this the “Jenna” way of decorating a bedroom – most definitely not the official way – but I fly my own freak flag.

Proceed with caution.

DIY Quote Art {Free Sex and the City & Dirty Dancing Printables}

September 30, 2014 By Jenna 41 Comments

If you know anything about me, its probably two things:

1. I like cheap beer.

2. I quote Sex and the City waaaay too much.

Seriously guys, its impossible for me to count how many times I have quoted Carrie Bradshaw or any character from Sex and the City on this blog. And then there’s all the times I’ve quoted it in real life – besides to my friends that live in the computer as Grunt Labor says.

In the ongoing group text message between myself, Grunt Labor, Nicky, and the Man of Questionable Honor, I know there were two days in a row where Sex and the City quotes were flying everywhere.

You see, The Man of Questionable Honor has not only moved to New York City (the Sex and the City mecca), but he has fallen in love.

And as Carrie Bradshaw said,

“Year after year, twenty-something women come to New York City in search of the two L’s: labels and love.”

Ok, so Brandon is a guy and he’s not in his 20’s, but ya know, same thing. He’s got both L’s now.

Anyone who knows me would also say I am incredibly random.

The previous paragraphs prove this.

Let’s chat about this DIY Quote Art today, shall we?

I also have some snazzy printables for ya!

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