giggleface studios: Quick Home Improvments...1, 2, 3!

PROJECT # 1

Q. What do you do when you have this lovely view out your bedroom window?

A. You cover it up with frosted contact paper silly!

That's a little better! It still gives us the light we need for our dark basement bedroom, and a little more privacy. This project has needed to be done for Ohhh...about 6+ years! I have had a difficult time trying to find frosted contact paper/shelf liner, and usually look for it at every store I go to. I see all sorts of great designs and patterns, but never frosted. I know you can order it online, but I figure if I'm going to order something online I want it to fun and exciting....not contact paper.

I FINALLY found it at Home Depot! There was only this one design, but for $6 a roll, it works! I also found some fancier "window clings" online that look like stained glass, etching, or even rice paper. They are lovely, but I didn't want to spend too much on something I might mess up and ruin trying to put up.

Let me give you some advice if you want to go this route. Its a simple project, but you definitely need a little patience putting it up. Slow and steady is the key! There is also a little trick to getting it nice and bubble free...Windex and a squeegee!

Here's how you do it...Clean your windows first, then cut your paper to the the size of your window adding at least and extra inch around (this will be cut off in the end). Next, spray your window lightly with Windex and then peel a corner off of the contact paper. Start in the corner of the window and slowly peel away and press at the same time. After you have done a little bit take your squeegee and smooth it out. The Windex keeps the paper from sticking and you can un peel and move the paper around if need be. Just peel, press, squeegee...peel, press, squeegee!

I found that in the end I still had a few air bubbles, but I just took an x-acto knife, made a small slit next to the bubble and finger pressed it out. The Windex might also get trapped and leave a weird film, but it will dry up after a few hours and then your window should look clear! Don't forget to take your x-acto and trim off any overhang so you get a nice clean edge...That's it!

PROJECT # 2

My mom gave me this linen Dala horse tablecloth that she got as a gift from a friend that stayed with our family from Sweden one summer. It's been in her linen closet for years, and since she knew how much I love my horses she decided I would get better use out of it. The only problem was that I didn't want my Honey kids to spill or leave drink rings on it, so I decided that it need to be put on display for everyone to see! I thought I'll just get simple frame at the hobby store to stretch it over...turns out you can't buy a square frame, so I got the supplies to make my own. How hard can that be?

I thought with just a few squeezes of the staple gun I would have a nice square frame. I was sorely mistaken. It was very flimsy and fell apart in my hand when I picked it up, so off to Dad's I went. I knew he could fix it for me with his nail gun. That didn't take too long, now to staple the fabric on...wait, it uhh, doesn't fit...the fabric is smaller than the frame! How did that happen?

I never claimed to be a carpenter!

Dad, * BLINK* BLINK* can you fix this for me...again? MEASURE, SAW, SAW, MEASURE, SAW, SAW...STAPLE, STAPLE, STAPLE, STAPLE! Thank you! *SMILE*

It turned out so wonderful! It is so bright and cheery and looks great in the Living Room with my new couch pillows too!

PROJECT # 3

This project didn't require much, just a little muscle and some cleaning. I think I can handle that one! This is a kitchen cabinet that has been in my parents garage for awhile. They asked if I wanted it, and without any hesitation I snatched it right up and loaded it into the car (with a quick call warning my Honey).