Frame Modification

Zoe and I found an old wood frame at Goodwill.  I removed the glass, cleaned it up, and then painted it roughly with teal paint.  I used eye hooks to attach picture wire along the back. I also added some hooks along the bottom of the frame, for keys and lanyards.  I also got some small wood clothespins and spray painted them a rust color.

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Inexpensive and cool dorm shelving

Within a couple of months, using coupons and watching for sales, I bought six plain wood crates at Joanns (http://www.joann.com/wood-crate/xprd74816/.

I stenciled them first, inspired by this blog (http://thatsmyletter.blogspot.com).  But I couldn't quite get the paint to flow, so I used a sharpie to first outline the stencil, but I did use a ball-point pen to trace around the printed stencil.  This is a perfect activity to do while watching some TV, like catching up on Breaking Bad.

After stenciling, I stained them with Minwax, color Jacobean.  I might have gone lighter and used the Dark Walnut, but I like the grey tones in the Jacobean. After staining them, I let them dry overnight, and then I waxed them with Briwax in Dark Brown. You could also use a polyurethane, but I wanted the finish of the wax, plus I had some already. Pretty cool, huh?

We don't know the space where these would go yet, but we could get some planks of wood to stretch between a couple of the crates, as well as add some casters. I will do a follow up blog once they are in the final position.

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Door ID & Mail Board

Zoe wanted a unique board to hang outside her room. It needed to have a pocket for mail and notes, and some hooks for keys and other stuff.  We were inspired by string art and this tutorial for a mail organizer (http://www.noodle-head.com/2010/05/mail-organizer-tutorial.html). We combined the two into this:

Materials:
12 x 24 canvas
3 cork squares
spray adhesive
fabric to cover canvas
embroidery floss
fabric for the pocket (I used an old shirt.)
small nails/linoleum nails
two picture hanging hooks
hooks

Tools:
staple gun
hammer
strong scissors
glue gun

1 - Using your glue gun, glue the three cork squares together, just run the glue around the edges.  Place something heavy on top to flatten them while drying.

2 - Trim the cork to fit inside the back on the canvas, see the next three pix. I used my kitchen scissors to cut through the cork, using a exacto knife makes a mess.

3 - Glue the cork to the canvas, again just on the edges.  Staple the cork to the edge of the frame.

4 - Cut the fabric about 2 inches wider than the edge of the canvas.  Spray the front of the canvas with the spray adhesive and stretch the fabric around the front and staple in place on the back.

5 - Add the two hanging hooks to the upper corners of the back.

6 - Print out your initial. We used the font DeLouisVille, size 1200.  You want to fill up an 8.5 x 11 paper as much as possible, also if possible, use the Outline font function (just to save ink).

7 - Use the nails and press around the edge of the initial. For the most part, you can push the nails into the canvas, but you might need to use a hammer. Then carefully tear the paper off.

8 - Just knot the floss and go back and forth between the nails.

9 - Now refer to http://www.noodle-head.com/2010/05/mail-organizer-tutorial.html  for the pattern and directions for making and adding the pocket.

10 - Add hooks to the bottom. I spray painted mine.  And you are done!

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Kitchen Vignette

Dorm room possibility - for the pantry door

Zoe and I made a couple more things that could hang from the pantry door.  The memo board is just a spray painted dollar store frame, with a piece of fabric behind the glass.  The holders for the markers and notepad are made by folding a piece of fabric for the bottom pocket and then putting them in an embroidery hoop.  We found the mesquite branch, washed it and soaked it in some water with a bit of bleach in case there were scorpions or spiders living inside. We painted the rings around it and added hooks.  

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Decorating Zoe's Dorm Room

I really like the challenge of decorating a dorm room - small space and small budget. Zoe and her dad say I go overboard, but I think Zoe secretly likes it, and we have a lot of fun planning, designing, shopping, and doing it.  Anyway, this year we did a video as well as some final pictures.

Here are also some pictures we took right when we were done.

 We just put pillows onto two chairs. Zoe's roommate was bringing a little couch.

Here are some pictures taken later, during Parents' Weekend.

 I made this bean bag later and shipped the cover, and got beans locally, but it needs some more.

Zoe and her roommate got into the spirit of things and redid their bulletin board and added their room number to the transom.   Also, Zoe's dorm won "Best Overall Dorm Room" and "Best Use of Space." Pin It

Dorm Room Winner

Okay, some of you have asked for pictures of Zoe's dorm room. Zoe and I spent time during the summer putting together several pieces for her room:
1 - Duvet cover
2 - Pillows
3 - Curtains
4 - Desk organizers and sink organizers
5 - Towels
6 - Decorations (paper lamps, wall stuff, and organizer board).
We also got some rugs and bins from Ikea/Target.
FYI - Her room won Best Overall Dorm for her college.
Here are some pictures -

Her duvet cover is reversible, one side is this black w/ white ric rac, the other is multi-colored.

I made matching trays for her and her roommate, they are made out of fabric w/ glass lining the bottom, with their initial below the glass.

Her roommate's quilt is from Anthropology.

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