I packed away the tree and cleaned the house. I feels good to get a fresh start on the new year without the beautiful *clutter* of Christmas.

Before I say goodbye to this season’s Christmas, I thought I’d post about a few of my favorite things…

My favorite gift: Shadow Box Frame for my Christmas Tree

My parents had my vintage costume jewelry tree professionally matte and framed. I collected pendants, earrings and bracelets to craft this unique and festive piece of wall art.  I created the tree (a couple years back) to mimic a similar piece that my Grandma Mary hung in her home during the Holidays.

My favorite craft: Christmas Countdown on a Stick

The 2 X 4 Advent Calendar. I took photos of this project as I went along, so, I may post a tutorial in November next year…right now I am pretty sure nobody can think about Christmas projects anymore. I did use scrap wood, Mod Podge, scrapbook paper, recycled Christmas greeting cards and an old advent calendar to put this all together.

Favorite After Christmas Sale Item: Glitter Decoupage Tree

Okay, I don’t have much to say about this ornament other than I bought it from Target for mere pennies! Why do I love to brag about a good deal so much? It just brings me so much joy I guess. It is such a pretty little thing.

Hope you all had some favorites this year too!

Love,

Jess

Really? Seriously, someone at some point thought this sign was cool. Such are decor fads I guess.

Still, I don’t really get this sign. Is it like a brothel? An early day econo-lodge? Prairie days homestead renter?

I just had to change the poor sign from weird to fun!

Here is how I did it:

1. Cover the sign with spray paint. I used 3 coats of Krylon Ivory (satin).
2. I purchased, Large Monogram Corrugate Letters by Colorbok.
3. Attach letters with a double-sided adhesive
4. Wipe a watered down brown acrylic paint or antiquing glaze over the sign and letters.
5. Dab excess paint/glaze with a paper towel. This will also add the appearance of texture on the sign.
6. Add a few swipes of watered down, off-white acrylic paint to the letters. This will add a bit more definition.
7. Dry and Hang!

This post is linked up with Kimba’s DIY day. Welcome DIY’ers!

To see where I displayed this sign, click on my Bathroom Reveal .
Thanks,

Jess

Before-

What I wanted to change:

• Wallpaper border
• Peel and stick linoleum flooring (Do not install this if you ever plan on potty training a little boy! The cracks soak up everything!)
• Blah feeling to the room

What I wanted to have:

• A bold but neutral color on the wall without a border
• Fresh tile flooring
• A fun and relaxing feel to the room

After-

Details-

Thrifty Scores-

Total transformation for only $120!

• The paint on the wall was from the recycling center -  FREE
• All the accessories were found at thrift stores or garage sales.  Around $13
• The towel rack hooks were $1 each at Home Depot
• White towel $2 at Wal-mart
• Tile flooring materials about $90 (Tile was FREE – surplus from a friend)
• Craft paint $4

Result-

Making a bold decor statement in the bathroom was so fun! I like the uniqueness of my bathroom. It’s so theme-y without actually belonging to a “bathroom set” like you would find a department store.

Love,

Jess

Related Posts-

Before and After

Towel Rack from 25 cent Shutter

{Linked up to Trash to Treasure Tuesdays at Reinvented.}

I painted a shutter from a garage sale in my pre-blogging days. Hence, no true before photo.

It was just wood.

Next, it was glorious, in it’s sage and black shabbiness. It was ideal for the top of my kitchen cabs as a backdrop for other decor. (when my kitchen was sage green)

Now it has a breath of fresh life as a beach-weather inspired towel rack for the kids in the bathroom.

Remember the color teal? Teal ruled about 15 plus years ago. I am bringing it back.

I promise to get a nice photo of all the bathroom updates when everything is installed.

Have a beachy kind of day!