Spice Up Your Memo Board

Bulletin boards come in handy but I can't thing of many things uglier than a big ol' slab of cork. So I whipped up something a bit more pleasing to the eye.

What You'll Need:-corkboard: I found this set of 4 6x6 boards at Michael's, but you can get a sheet and cut it down to whatever size you prefer.
-fabric: This set of 4 coordinating pieces of fabric also came from Michael's. I like having each board be a different pattern, but you can use just one kind of fabric if you'd like.
-fabric scissors: unfortunately I only have paper scissors with me (thankfully the edges are hidden for this project)
-craft glue
-double sided tape

Step One: Cut your fabric down to size
Using your corkboard as a guide, cut your fabric so it's about an inch bigger than the board on all sides.

Step Two: Secure one side
Draw two lines of glue on the corkboard and pull the fabric taut over two opposing sides. Press down.

Step Three: Secure the other sides

This took a bit of maneuvering, but maybe someone who's more adept at wrapping gifts than me would have an easier time with it. First, I put a dot of glue between the two sides of the fabric where they meet at the corners so they'd stay put. Then draw two lines of glue on the corkboard and across the folded fabric. Pull the fabric taut and fold over, pressing down while keeping everything in line.

Step Four: Repeat with the other four boards and let dry.

Arrange the boards in a grid and stick 'em on the wall with some double-sided tape.

You can throw things up there willy nilly or artfully arrange photos or souvenirs so the fabric acts more as a frame. The added bonus is they're also perfectly lovely to look at if they're not in use.

Decorating for Less... Way Less

Recently, I've been seriously thinking about how I want my new room to look & what I'd like to put in it. I've gone through several floor plans, but I still wasn't sure exactly how to get everything I needed on a tight budget. I considered various options (mostly including Target and IKEA), but I knew that even their prices might push me too far.

I know that there must be others like me, so I thought I'd share my solutions.

1. Do It Yourself.
Instead of buying things already made, take the time to do it yourself. Not only is this usually a cheaper & more satisfying route, but it is also a way to ensure you get exactly what you want. For example, I found an interesting picture frame consisting of four different black frames glued together at Target. It would be perfect for my room, but I thought that it would be a fun (& cheaper) project to do myself. I'm also considering sewing my own duvet cover & curtains as well. Obviously these projects take a bit more time than driving to a store & laying out the cash, but they'll be well worth it.

2. Yard Sales.
They're not always a guarantee, but if you plan ahead & wake up early, you might be able to grab a few deals. I tried for the first time this past Saturday & despite the fact that I didn't have much time, I still managed to find a few things. A large picnic basket for my sewing supplies & a single serve George Foreman grill, each for two dollars. I used Craigslist's Garage & Moving Sales section with Google Maps to help plan my route. You can also check out your local paper's classified sections.

3. Freecycle.
A few days ago, I was encouraged to check out the Freecycle groups on Yahoo! Groups. The groups are created by area and are a way to find things you need or give things you don't need away for free. The Freecycle mission statement: "Our mission is to build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources & eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community." I ended up joining three in my area & on the very same day, I found a bedroom set. I only ended up taking a dresser & mirror, but both are real wood & will look incredible after a bit of fixing up. I've also seen offers for things like televisions, DVD players, & other useful items.

4. eBay.
I know that I've mentioned eBay before, but it really is a great way to decorate (or find just about anything). I want to fill my room with red votive candle holders next fall & eBay has plenty of deals. Make sure to check here for things you might need before splurging, especially if you need to buy several of something.

5. Craigslist.
Many people post things that they'd like to sell on Craigslist. Even though they're not free like Freecycle, it's definitely worth a look.

6. RetailMeNot.com.
If you're set on purchasing something from a store, however, make sure to check out this website. It's full of coupons, offers, & promotions that will help your wallet.

Good luck & happy hunting! :)

Chelsea's Wishlist

1. Lately, I've been obsessed with black, white, & red, if you can't tell by the design of the blog. But I really love the idea of a black & white patterned comforter with an accent of red sheets. Thank you, Target.

2. This is what started my black, white, & red bed idea. While randomly perusing through gifts.com, I found the most adorable pillowcases I've ever seen in my entire life. No lie. These are a bit expensive however, so I'll probably take the inspiration and make them with fabric paint myself. :)

3. In my current room, I have about forty prints of my friends & family. I'd like to do something more special next year (maybe) like this, using frames from thrift shops & my usual CVS prints.

4. Placemats! I think they're an easy way of making a table more homey without the hassle of a tablecloth. Plus, there's the added bonus of the ability to customize them. I love this idea of chalkboard placemats.

5. Since our apartment won't have a common area next year (saving money is much more important), I decided that my ideal bed would be a futon bed. One of my best friends ordered one from here, but I hope to inherit something similar (and cheaper) from our apartment's current occupants.

6. Though our rooms are thoroughly lit, lamps are still a necessity. Making one seems like so much more fun than picking one out at IKEA. Especially if I can make it out of a bottle...

7. I am not a huge fan of butterflies (though the bedroom I decorated in 6th grade will tell you differently...) but I still like the decoupage candle holders we all made in second grade for Mother's Day. Don't even kid yourself, these are awesome.

8. In the apartment, there's a teeny balcony, perfect for some outside dinners (with decoupaged candle holders!). In the interest of maintaining everyone's sanity & creating another crafty project, I thought decorated tv trays would be an ideal situation.

9. Finally, red curtains. There are approximately twenty seven (or just five) windows in my room & because I happen to love sleep, this will be an issue in the morning. Hence, curtains. Yes, I do know they're shower curtains, but I like the look of these better. :P