Showing posts with label Projects. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Projects. Show all posts

July 24, 2015

Share Funshine + Make DIY Designer Dog Shirt Collars

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ShareFunshine #CollectiveBias

Share a little Funshine and make an adorable DIY designer dog shirt collar in minutes! #ShareFunshine

This summer I've been browsing thrift stores like crazy, I'm looking for new basic pieces to add to my wardrobe since I'm in a smaller size (YAY!) and I'm also looking for fun DIY projects.

Share a little Funshine and make an adorable DIY designer dog shirt collar in minutes! #ShareFunshine

I absolutely love turning something old into something new; whether it's a restored piece of furniture or a funky, inventive way to upcycle fabric, I can always come up with some crazy idea to make these thrifty finds into treasures!

Share a little Funshine and make an adorable DIY designer dog shirt collar in minutes! #ShareFunshine

So the other day when we were browsing one of my favorite places to shop second hand, we casually were walking by the children's section and I spotted some of the cutest collared shirts.We don't have any little one's (yet), but I brilliantly came up with the an idea that involved my furry children.

Share a little Funshine and make an adorable DIY designer dog shirt collar in minutes! #ShareFunshine

I wasn't going to subject them to wearing children's clothes, putting a collared button up shirt on my dog would be kind of funny but I don't think they would like that much. So I decided to spice up their current collars with a much more fun, fashionable spin on a collar.

Share a little Funshine and make an adorable DIY designer dog shirt collar in minutes! #ShareFunshine

I call my creation DIY Designer Dog Shirt Collars, my little pooches seem to love their new cotton collars and they look absolutely adorable (and a little hilarious) on them!

Share a little Funshine and make an adorable DIY designer dog shirt collar in minutes! #ShareFunshine


Right after we made these cute new collars we had some friends come over (to share our delicious snack with) and we all agreed that these look like they were made for my dogs.

Share a little Funshine and make an adorable DIY designer dog shirt collar in minutes! #ShareFunshine

Well, they were made for my dogs, but they just fit them so well it looks as though they should have always worn shirt collars instead of "dog collars". I suppose you could say my dogs and I have elevated the idea of a collar, at least until it's time to put their harnesses on to go for a walk. 

Share a little Funshine and make an adorable DIY designer dog shirt collar in minutes! #ShareFunshine

If you want to elevate your dog's sense of fashion, it's super easy to make one of these cute new collars! Follow the directions below and if you need any help, feel free to ask me via social media or email!

Share a little Funshine and make an adorable DIY designer dog shirt collar in minutes! #ShareFunshine

Step 1: Choose shirts that will fit your dog's neck and personality. It was easy to pick out a couple of shirts with collars for my pooches and I bought them for 50 cents a piece. I'm sure if you hit your local thrift store you'll be able to find some collared shirts that will fit your little fuzzy friends as well.

Share a little Funshine and make an adorable DIY designer dog shirt collar in minutes! #ShareFunshine

I suggest measuring your dogs neck before you go (or taking their current collar with you), so you know approximately what size shirt you should be looking for. You'll also want to look for collared shirts that have a button actually on the collar, this will actually be the clasp for your dogs collar!

Share a little Funshine and make an adorable DIY designer dog shirt collar in minutes! #ShareFunshine

Step 2: Wash all of the clothes you bought, just because a little clean laundry never hurt anyone. Plus, you are ensuring your dogs new collar is super clean and fresh! During this time, I highly suggest you all allow yourself, and your dogs, some delicious treats.

Share a little Funshine and make an adorable DIY designer dog shirt collar in minutes! #ShareFunshine

///Side note: We stopped at Walmart for a few things after we hit the thrift store and I saw a whole bunch of delicious candy and my dogs favorite treat, Pedigree Dentastix® Original.

Share a little Funshine and make an adorable DIY designer dog shirt collar in minutes! #ShareFunshine


That's when the decision was made, the rest of the day was all about crafting and treating the dogs and ourselves to all of our favorite things!

Share a little Funshine and make an adorable DIY designer dog shirt collar in minutes! #ShareFunshine

After all it's rained here almost every day in July, we all deserved a fun day and decided we would make our own "Funshine"!

Share a little Funshine and make an adorable DIY designer dog shirt collar in minutes! #ShareFunshine

I bought all my favorite candies: Starburst® Minis Unwrapped, Life Savers® Hard Candy, Skittles®, and M&M's® Peanut and we were on our way home to start crafting! Before you start crafting again, you should definitely enter to win the Share a Little Funshine Sweeps:

///

Share a little Funshine and make an adorable DIY designer dog shirt collar in minutes! #ShareFunshine

Step 3. After your the collared shirts are clean, you'll want to grab a pair of scissors and cut along the seam of the collar. Make sure to trim any remaining threads and then it's time to try your dog's new collar out for the first time.

Share a little Funshine and make an adorable DIY designer dog shirt collar in minutes! #ShareFunshine


Step 4. If you are anything like me, you'll want to share your new creation with the world and if your dogs are anything like mine they won't let you take a picture easily.

Share a little Funshine and make an adorable DIY designer dog shirt collar in minutes! #ShareFunshine

I don't have the most perfectly behaved dogs in the world, it's true. They get a bit wild and are like toddlers when I try to take pictures of them, they literally can't sit still.

Share a little Funshine and make an adorable DIY designer dog shirt collar in minutes! #ShareFunshine

I've learned to snag photos to share, I need a little help from Pedigree Dentastix® Original and Pedigree Dentastix® Beef Flavor. All I have to do is show them that they'll get a Pedigree Dentastix® right after they pose and they are all set and ready to model!

Share a little Funshine and make an adorable DIY designer dog shirt collar in minutes! #ShareFunshine

Who knew it was so  I easy to convince "models" to pose properly?!

Share a little Funshine and make an adorable DIY designer dog shirt collar in minutes! #ShareFunshine

Share a little Funshine and make an adorable DIY designer dog shirt collar in minutes! #ShareFunshine

If you decide to make one of these adorable collars for your pooch, you must show me photo evidence! I'd love to hear how you plan on sharing "funshine" through out the summer?  I'd love to hear if you have any creative activities planned with your kids, dogs, husband this summer? Tell me all about it in the comments below! If you want to treat your dog and yourself, click here to save on M&M's®, SNICKERS® Ice Cream Bars, Dr Pepper® Cherry, Skittles®, Pedigree Dentastix®, and more!  Download the Blippar app from your Apple or Android store to scan your package and receive exclusive content.

July 20, 2015

Funk Up Your House with Quirky Functional Home Decor

I'm all for decorating a house with all kinds of adorable, eclectic goodies but I also know hectic it can begin to look if you don't know how to organize your decor appropriately. I am currently trying to organize all of our collections and lusting over all of these super quirky DIY projects and products and just have to share them with you. From creative uses for a trunk to a stool made of old magazines, there's something just quirky enough for everyone and the storage these pieces offer is just what every home needs!


Which project will you take on first? I think I want to give hubs a to-do list that includes each of these projects and then some!

Check out Funk Up Your House with Quirky Functional Home Decor
by Lauren Paints at Mode

April 13, 2015

DIY Bedside Makeover: a Reinvented Nightstand + a Vintage-Inspired Birdhouse Lamp

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SleepAligned #CollectiveBias

DIY Bedside Makeover: a Reinvented Nightstand + a Vintage-Inspired Birdhouse Lamp

DIY projects are probably the most fun you can have while at home... What's not to love about painting, sanding, and just simply creating (or re-creating) something? I'm always up for a challenge and luckily my hubby is as well. When I decided that I wanted a new bedside table and a new lamp to place upon my new nightstand earlier this week, we both started thinking creatively and came up with two really awesome DIY projects that I'm just gaga over.

Before I share our fun projects, let's start with the reason why I wanted a new nightstand though. I'm implementing a new routine in the evenings. While I've always been a "night owl", staying up until the wee hours of the morning is wearing on me and when I hit twenty-six last month, I knew it was time to give up my typical 4AM bedtime.

DIY Bedside Makeover: a Reinvented Nightstand + a Vintage-Inspired Birdhouse Lamp

I am now reading in bed an hour before I fall asleep with my GE Align™ bulb inside my new birdhouse lamp, helping me improve my sleeping habits. I also apply lavender essential oils to my wrists and burn a relaxing scented candle, all in an effort to relax my mind and send me snoozin'!

While this may seem like a normal nightly routine, it's not what I'm used to. I've spent the last few years on a computer until late at night, literally working until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. I'm so excited for this change and I know what an incredible difference sleeping more will have on my body.

DIY Bedside Makeover: a Reinvented Nightstand + a Vintage-Inspired Birdhouse Lamp

So now that you know why we are adding this super cute new decor to our room, let's get to the fun part of it all!

DIY Bedside Makeover: a Reinvented Nightstand + a Vintage-Inspired Birdhouse Lamp



This nightstand is a SUPER simple DIY project that anyone can complete. You'll only need sandpaper, paint, and paintbrushes... and of course, a nightstand. I found my nightstand at a thrift store for $12! I'm sure you could hit up a garage sale or a flea market and find one even cheaper.

After you have all your supplies, just sand the nightstand until it has a bit of grit to it and paint. We applied two coats over a couple hour process. Taking our nightstand from a thrift store reject to a refreshed, reinvented piece of furniture that matches our room perfectly!

DIY Bedside Makeover: a Reinvented Nightstand + a Vintage-Inspired Birdhouse Lamp

Now that we had our nightstand finished, it was time to create a new light for our room that would be comforting and conducive to sleep while also matching our decor.. I originally went shopping for a lamp that I liked but I couldn't find anything that fit my eclectic style and the color scheme in our room. Then when I was browsing my local craft store, I saw this adorable birdhouse (err, bird feeder), and fell in love. The windows adding the little "details" that I wanted my lamp to have, the natural wood finish allowing me to paint the lamp whatever shade I wanted... that's when I decided hubby and I were officially going to become lamp makers. After worrying about actually assembling a lamp, we found that building a lamp is actually pretty easy, thank goodness!

DIY Bedside Makeover: a Reinvented Nightstand + a Vintage-Inspired Birdhouse Lamp

For this project you will need:
a bird house/bird feeder
an electric drill
a lamp kit
acrylic paints (in preferred shades)
finishing wax
paint brushes
(general tools - i.e. hammer, screwdriver)


You'll want to begin by drilling a hole for the lamp kit's base in your birdhouse. I actually found a birdhouse that had a rope through a hole in the middle of the entire house so we simply widened the hole with our electric drill.

DIY Bedside Makeover: a Reinvented Nightstand + a Vintage-Inspired Birdhouse Lamp

Once the hole is drilled and the "base" of the kit fits into the hole, the next step is painting. I decided I wanted my lamp to have a rustic, beachy feel to it so I used this simple technique (you'll want to keep in mind for all sorts of furniture)!

DIY Bedside Makeover: a Reinvented Nightstand + a Vintage-Inspired Birdhouse Lamp

You can make anything look "chalk painted" so easily, a technique I love using for all sorts of pieces.

DIY Bedside Makeover: a Reinvented Nightstand + a Vintage-Inspired Birdhouse Lamp

You'll start this simple process with a layer of dark paint, then apply a layer of white acrylic paint thinned with water, then ivory acrylic paint thinned with water.

DIY Bedside Makeover: a Reinvented Nightstand + a Vintage-Inspired Birdhouse Lamp

Now you'll apply a coat of paint of the color you actually want your item to be (lavender purple, in my case), then white paint and water again. Allowing each coat to dry before applying the next.

DIY Bedside Makeover: a Reinvented Nightstand + a Vintage-Inspired Birdhouse Lamp

Once all of the coats are applied, sand each side, making sure to only sand it until you like the way it looks... Be careful not to over sand, it's easy to do if you are multi-tasking!

DIY Bedside Makeover: a Reinvented Nightstand + a Vintage-Inspired Birdhouse Lamp


After I sanded the project I applied a thin layer of finishing wax. Once the wax is dry, it's officially time to bring light into your world!

DIY Bedside Makeover: a Reinvented Nightstand + a Vintage-Inspired Birdhouse Lamp

Bring the electrical wires through your birdhouse (using a stiffer item like a wire hanger to help you guide the wires), then assemble the light kit as instructed... I don't want to give exact advice on assembling the kit because I'm not an electrician, but you should tie an underwriter's knot and be sure to pay attention to the ribbing on the wires and connect the correct wire to the correct screw (as instructed on your lamp kit).

DIY Bedside Makeover: a Reinvented Nightstand + a Vintage-Inspired Birdhouse Lamp

Once your lamp is assembled, you'll want to install a NEW GE Align™ PM LED Light Bulb to help promote your body's natural sleep cycle by helping it to produce more melatonin. You'll also want to add a lampshade!

DIY Bedside Makeover: a Reinvented Nightstand + a Vintage-Inspired Birdhouse Lamp

If you don't already have a light bulb, you can buy one of the awesome GE Align™ PM LED Light Bulbs on Amazon.com and get it shipped to you fast!

DIY Bedside Makeover: a Reinvented Nightstand + a Vintage-Inspired Birdhouse Lamp


They actually produce a lower amount of blue light, providing a soothing yellow light helping you rest easier. Maybe you are trying to implement a better morning routine instead? Check out the GE Align™ AM LED Light Bulbs, which help promote the body's natural wake cycle.

DIY Bedside Makeover: a Reinvented Nightstand + a Vintage-Inspired Birdhouse Lamp

Now your new lamp is all set to use.. and I feel like I should warn you, I'm sitting here in awe. I like our new pieces of furniture so much because they are obviously adorable new pieces of decor, but because of the less obvious reason: the memories we made together.

Now that I've shared how we gave my bedside a total makeover, I'd love to know how you "wind down" and relax at night?

Stay connected with GE:  Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram

Don't miss your chance to win:
GE Align #SleepAligned Sweeps - More than $800 In Prizes

March 16, 2015

Lucky Penny Rainbow St. Patrick's Day DIY Project

Lucky Penny Rainbow St. Patrick's Day DIY Project

Everyone loves St. Patty's day, right? A holiday that includes green beer for adults and silly antics for the kids, with maybe a few pinches involved for those that forget to wear green!

Lucky Penny Rainbow St. Patrick's Day DIY Project

Today I'm sharing a super cute craft I put together last-minute to decorate the house a bit for this Irish holiday. I made this little project using a handful of pennies, a piece of stock paper, school glue, and a green marker - it's that easy! This super simple project would be a lot of fun to work on with the kiddos, something adorable to put together quickly while you celebrate the holiday!

DIY Lucky Penny Rainbow
for St Patty's Day

Lucky Penny Rainbow St. Patrick's Day DIY Project

What you'll need:
A large handful of pennies (some new, some tarnished)
Paper
Glue
Green marker

You'll begin this project by laying out the pennies the way you plan to glue them down. I made a small half circle with the bright fresh new pennies, then made another half circle with the tarnished pennies, and another with the new pennies... You could continue on with this pattern or use less. This lucky penny rainbow looks cool big or small.

Lucky Penny Rainbow St. Patrick's Day DIY Project

After you lay the pennies out, begin to glue them down. Once the pennies have dried in place, you'll want to draw clouds at the end of the rainbow! I think if I made this again I might even draw a little black pot... you know, a pot o' gold at the end of the rainbow!

I decided to write lucky inside my penny rainbow, you could find a favorite Irish blessing or a friendly st. patty's day greeting, so many fun ways to personalize this project!

After your finished, place your new St. Patty's decor out for the world to see!


June 8, 2014

The Ultimate Pier 1 Bohemian Outdoor Oasis Party and a GIVEAWAY! {ends 6/15}

I may have received a product, sample, and/or compensation to facilitate this review, regardless all opinions expressed above are completely my own.


I've always been a huge fan of Pier 1, they offer such unique items and ummm hello - home decor is a favorite amongst almost all women, especially bloggers! I was so excited when they approached me to host an outdoor oasis party on their behalf, think happy-cry and a little bouncing up and down in my living room. I really love Pier 1!!

I wanted my shin-dig to have an offbeat, unconventional feel - I decided on a bohemian theme and I'm so pleased with the results. Florida is full of exotic beauty and sharing my version of an outdoor oasis was pretty easy to accomplish! My idea of an eclectic, free-spirited bohemian party turned out perfectly thanks to all the summer lines Pier 1 carries - I mainly stuck with the summer brights collection but you can see some of their coastal views collection mixed in as well!

To get the party set in motion,
I immediately sent out virtual invites to all of my guests, made by yours truly, that really set the vibe:


Since I live super close to the coast in Florida the beach is pretty much my backyard, I decided to host my party at one of my favorite beach inlets so that I could showcase my favorite part of Florida's outdoors. The view from the table was phenomenal, the weather was perfect - warm but not muggy, a slight breeze - a bit heavenly, if you ask me! Plus what could be a better form of entertainment than the beach and the ocean? I can't think of any!


I served a delicious Ocean Blue Spiked Lemonade, Vegetable Sushi Rolls, and Super Rich + Moist Chocolate cupcakes with a Creamy Coconut frosting! (Look for the recipes over the next few days!) Quiet the eclectic selection of food but it matched the theme of the party perfectly!

My decor was full of fun items from Pier 1, stuff that I already had around the house, and a few items were purchased from the thrift store just to give it that extra artsy, bohemian vibe! I mixed and matched with multiple rich colors and a few subtle patterns - adding little accents to complete the boho feel.


I wore a bohemian, hippy-esque lace shirt I've had forever and some bright green shorts with my black bikini underneath. I accessorized with a handcrafted no sew bohemian headband (be on the lookout for a tutorial on that later this month) as well as a some clearance section bracelets and sunglasses - a girl has to look good on a budget, right?!


The lantern stand was absolutely stunning on the table and really added an extra touch - I had no idea I had such a strong liking for lanterns until I visited Pier 1 recently. They had TONS of lantern options to choose from and I fell head-over-heels in love with every single lantern.






 The serving platters are another Pier 1 find and they are so beautiful - not to mention, super easy to clean since they are dishwasher safe! The colorful detail in the plates really made my tablescape pop, ask my guests -- they all wanted to get their hands on a serving platter set of their own!



The pillows are also a Pier 1 find and they served their purpose perfectly on the beach  - although I didn't snap a picture (I blame the spiked lemonade). We took our blankets and pillows (and lemonade) out to the beach once the party started wrapping up a little and had quiet the beach set up. It was SO incredibly comfortable and since the pillows are indoor/outdoor and totally made to be weather resistant, I wasn't worried about them being on the beach at all! Pier 1 has a HUGE selection of pillows but the bright cobalt blue and lime green from their summer line just spoke to me - they were so basic yet so beautiful and had to be included in the party decor!

The pitcher and margarita glasses were a huge hit as well! The cobalt blue rim matched the pillows perfectly. The set added to the aesthetic appeal of the whole tablescape, Blue Spiked Lemonade in a blue accented pitcher and glasses is a stunning combination.


I loved sharing my bohemian Pier 1 party with all of my friends, the event was a total hit! It's safe to say that Pier 1 Imports’ summer collection is full of personality, so you’re sure to find the perfect decor for your own home or the most fitting present for anyone on your list. Plus, all of the products I mentioned today are available at your local Pier 1 Imports.
Now I'm super excited to announce that I have the chance to host a giveaway for one lucky reader to win a $25 Pier1 Imports gift card! What is your favorite item from their summer collection? Check out Pier1.com and let me know!


Here's your chance to win some gorgeousness from Pier1 Imports,
enter with the giveaway form below:






Disclaimer: I may have received a product, sample, and/or compensation to facilitate this review, regardless all opinions expressed above are completely my own.
This contest will run through June 15th at 4:59 pm EST. Must be 18 years or older to win.  This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter or any other company other than Pier1 Imports mentioned above. You understand that you are providing your information to Lauren Paints | a beautiful life and not to Facebook, I will not use your information other than to e-mail you a winning notification if you are the chosen winner. Enter using the Giveaway Tools form above. Void Where Prohibited. Please note that Lauren Paints | a beautiful life and all other bloggers participating are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. Also, You can only win gift card from Pier 1 during this campaign.