Monday, March 30, 2009

A Whole Lot of Mis-treatin' Going On!

I've received many comments and questions about the lamps in my family room. Everyone seems to be drawn in by that very large and luxurious ribbon adorning the shades. To answer the question...yes, I did that myself. In fact, I usually change out the ribbon with the seasons or to match holiday decor. I think it is one of the easiest, most inexpensive changes you can make to a room. It takes zero effort, but makes a real statement.

A lot of bang for your buck!


This lamp started out as a plain jane paper shade from Ikea. I used leftover fabric from my daughter's crib bedding to cover them for a custom look. All it takes is a bit of folding, tucking, and a smidge of hot glue.

Easy!

Ok, here's another version of the ribbon tied lampshade. I bought these lamps ages ago. I grew tired of the trim that was on there, so I just ripped it off and hot glued leftover trim from the kitchen curtains.
Voila!

Now to be completely honest, this lamp is not my favorite. But it's just not in the budget right now to buy new lamp shades for no other reason than I'm tired of looking at them. So...what's a thrifty gal to do? I'll give you one hint...it involves hot glue and some leftover trim.

Mind blowing...I'm sure!


Another quick and easy fix for a boring lamp shade...ribbon and scrapbook supplies.
Ok, this is one of my new favorite things to do. Wrap your candles in strips of fabric, fray the edges, and tie it up with raffia or ribbon. Does it get any easier than that?

If you don't have any fabric scraps lying around, I bet you could find some scrapbook paper. This is such a low cost way to really spruce up your decor. Remember these from Christmas? Yep...one of my all time favorite arrangements!

Some of you might remember when I wrote about making this frame. I LOVE to copy high end things for little to no money. It is so much fun...and super addictive!
And yet another low cost mis-treatment. This bulletin board was made from a plain canvas wrapped in fabric. I'd been searching for a cute bulletin board for my girls' room with no luck. So I decided to make one myself. I love how this turned out. And I love that it has that custom, one of a kind look.

A post on mis-treating just wouldn't be complete without an actual WINDOW mistreatment, now would it? I made two panels from one twin size flat sheet cut in half. Then I hot glued some apple green ball fringe to the inner edge. There was absolutely NO sewing involved whatsoever! The trim is glued right on top of the raw edge. No one knows...or cares.


Another no sew project. The panels were made with stitch witchery. The topper that runs the length of the windows is tacked directly to the wall with upholstery tacks and the fringe is ...you guessed it...hot glued. Seriously people, you just can't get any easier than this.



A few years ago I NEVER would have done something like this. I could not allow myself to try new things because I thought it needed to be done perfectly. So, instead of trying it with the possibility of slight imperfection, I just didn't try it at all. So sad! I am so unbelievably glad that I realized what utter poppycock that was. And how silly. Ask yourself...would you rather try something with the possibility that you might LOVE it, or keep on being miserable with the same old same old? I can tell you from personal experience, it is so liberating to let go of those notions of perfection...and LIVE! Work with what you've got. Be creative. Think outside the box.

Try it.
I think you'll like it...and you'll never go back!

46 comments:

Staci said...

I'm tellin you... You are my hero. I LOOOVE this post and am ready to head to the fabric store tomorrow. I am dying for new lapshades for my bedroom. Now I know that even if I don't find something perfect, I can customize it myself. Easy... right up my alley.

Mandi Shandi said...

Oh friend, all of your projects are just fantastic. I also used to live by that "poppycock"theory about perfection,but have come to find that sometimes the little imperfections make things even better. And you are right, that discovery has been liberating!

Mandi Shandi said...

It's me again! I am thrilled to see the tassel I made you on that lamp. It looks perfect there!

southerninspiration said...

Cute, Cute, ideas!!! Thanks for sharing!

suzanne

Unknown said...

So many cute ideas! Now if I could just make bows that look like yours...;)

Amanda @ Serenity Now said...

WOW! You are even more creative than I thought!! ;) I love everything you did...the candles really seem like something I might be able to pull off on my own. ;) Fabric makes me nervous b/c that involves measuring, which involves math, and, well...there's a reason I had to take the same college math class more than once!!! Love all your ideas and thank you so much for posting photos. :)

My Precious Peanut Designs said...

This post couldn't have been more perfectly timed for me! Thanks so much for all the super ideas!!

~Tiffany

Laurie said...

This post is loaded with wonderful ideas! It really gets the creative juices flowing! Thanks for sharing! Love following your blog!:)

Chris said...

We think alike! So many of the projects you just showed can be found in my house, as well! We must both be cheap, eh? :)

The Soladay Family said...

I am all for doing whatever works! All your projects are beautiful!

Carry Grace said...

Great revamps! I love the thing that can be done with a hot glue gun.

I love the ball fringe on the pink curtains - very cute, and I'm a big fan of scrapbook paper on candles. I love to do this when I just want a new look or for a new season.

Shannon said...

Love all of those pictures!! That bulletin board is great and so are your kitchen windows! Beautiful!

Kelly said...

So many awesome projects. I'm getting ready to fix up an old lamp myself...spray painting it black and fixing up the shade...new lamps are expensive!!

I like the canvas covered in fabric idea...I may need to copy that!!

A Southern Rose said...

Oh My Goodness! I feel a trip to Hobby Lobby coming on! You have so many great ideas that I would like to try! I loved this post! Will you come by my post and see if you can help me with a window project? I know that you are so creative!

Hugs,
Lee Laurie

Stacey said...

Girl! You are unreal! Just absolutely talented!!! LOVE everything you showed us today. I think I am living in the in between world right now. I used to be afraid to try things and am venturing out to try but then get discouraged when it is not perfect. But I like your words of wisdom....I think they are going to help me!!!

mommy4life said...

Would you be my new best friend! Seroiusly, I need someone so inspirational and wise. I let my perfectionist tendencies keep me from trying new stuff and I miss out on all these beautiful things....

Georgia Girl said...

Just simply cute....all of the projects! You are such a talented lady!

Kristina P. said...

You are amazing! And I LOVE bows. They are one of my favorite little touches.

blog said...

I wonder if you can help me since I see all your lovely shades. i have a lamp in my room i want to cover with fabric but the tip of the shade is smaller than the bottom. how would you measure that to cut the fabric out? (Gosh I hope the answer isn't painfully obvious. I've tried to figure it out and I just can't!) Thanks!

Allidink said...

You have such great ideas!!! I just love them all and I want to try them all! :) Thanks so much!

All the best,
Allison

Jill@Barnes Yard said...

I'm definitely doing some mistreating today!

Laurel @ Ducks in a Row said...

That frame is what hooked me to your blog!

queenbee said...

You are so creative and I loveee that you share with the rest of us. On my budget I have no choice but to be very thrifty and creative. Stop by anytime.

Trina said...

Utter poppycock! I love this post! :) Hot glue can be your best friend if you let it, right?! You are a testament to that!

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

Oh yes, that ribbon on the lamp caught my eye! It really makes the lamp a knockout. The other shades are adorable too. I like to wrap up my candles too. The apple green pom pom fringe is so cute!

Manuela

Unknown said...

Oh, my, I'm so glad that you posted this today. I bought a lamp and lampshade at the GW a few weeks ago, and having been agonizing (seriously!) over how to fix up the shade. Now I've got my inspiration! I should have known you'd be the one... :)

Anonymous said...

You go girl.... a woman and ribbon can do wonders I tell ya! Love it~

frillsfluffandtrucks said...

What a timely post--I keep meaning to buy some black grosgrain ribbon for my shades but then I forget to pick it up every time I'm at the craft store. I'm going again tomorrow...hopefully *this* time I'll remember the ribbon!

~ Sarah

Anonymous said...

i am loving the candle idea! what a great change without a lot of cost. my hubby would love that:)

Made In The South said...

Thanks for stopping by...I love your black and red lamp, and your picture frame is so cute, I made a couple, but mine are not that cute.

Nicole ~ said...

You have such cute ideas, I just love them all!!

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

I LOVE all of those ideas! Putting ribbon on your lamp shade - how cute is that?

And I love the lamp shade that you put your daughter's fabric on. My daughter has that same fabric in her room. I used it in her nursery too!

SO cute!

XOXOOX
Jen

kristal said...

this is what your blog is all about. what an honor to inspire so many women to be imperfectly beautiful!

Nora said...

You are too creative! Love all the great inexpensive ideas to change something up. :)

The Phillips Place said...

Okay, now I'm really going to have to try this stitch witchery stuff! Impressive!!! The bulletin board is so sweet!

Haha poppycock. Made me laugh :).

Tausha said...

You know, you are one of those people that I should really hate. I know, I know, we don't take pictures of ugly things-but come on-your stuff in the bomb! I should hate you, i really should-your immense talent, the owner of a GREAT birdcage-you are a ribbon lover-etc..instead-I really wish that you lived next door so we could swap ideas and talk on the phone and go to lunch. So-do you have any plans of moving to Utah? Come on-You so know that you want to!!!!

kristal said...

thanks for your comments and especially your encouragement to keep going. i really needed that. i just found out about a show in may....i think i'll put myself out there once again. man, it's hard, though, huh? i cannot wait to hear about your show. i KNOW people are gonna flip over your stuff. it's amazing.

Rachel Holloway said...

EVERYTHING is so beautiful! I love your talent. It's absolutely amazing@

Em said...

Ooooh I love it all! You were rockin' the glue gun girl!

hannahshirley said...

You are a creative genius.

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home said...

Everything looks so great!

AndreaLeigh said...

where does one find fringe? i see these on blogs and I have honestly never seen them sold anywhere. We don't have a Joanns or a Hobby Lobby, so my options are limited somewhat.

Karyn said...

You are obviously a genius!

Kathi said...

Thanks so much for commenting on my blog today! So glad to find yours! You are so creative! I love the mistreated drapes made from sheets! I am planning to make some and love your idea of how to hang them with the floppy top and trim on the sides! I'll be following you everwhere!
Thanks,
Kathi

Jessica said...

Those are adorable ideas! Thanks for sharing!

Why S? said...

I just now found your blog. Those are such great ideas, very creative. And thanks for your final thought. Very important to let go of the Anchor of Perfectionism.

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