A couple inexpensive diy projects

Rubiks Cube Tissue Box Cover

 The invention of pinterest has definitely forced me to complete projects that I have started.  One of the major projects that I did in January was a Rubiks cube tissue cover.  I purchased the kit on etsy and it arrived promptly.
            http://www.etsy.com/listing/90311596/rubiks-rubiks-rubic-cube-tissue-box?ref=v1_other_1
It took me well over seven hours to finish this but it was worth the time.  I made it for my brother who is a huge fan of The Big Bang Theory and once he unwrapped it he was ready to go grab his own rubiks cube.  I am even tempted to make one for myself since it was easy to make.

                                            Chevron Ikea Side Table

       Like many young adults furnishing an apartment on a budget means you have a couple choices from where to furnish your apartment.  These store include the goodwill(or other used goods stores), yard sales, craigslist, ikea or other stores with inexpensive mass produced furniture.  Looking around my apartment you will spot the majority of my furniture was purchased from ikea.  A few downsides to this is I am not the only one I know with the same furniture and if you are like me it's never fun when you walk into your friends apartment and think oh look we have the same coffee table, book case, desk, or kitchen table.  After one of these moments I decided to look into what kind of things I could do to change them so they aren't just another piece of Ikea furniture.  Another thing I have been obsessed with is the chevron pattern.  I really wish that I would have created a stencil instead of using a ruler and tape to measure out the pattern.  There is still time for me to go back and fix it and I will print out a stencil on cardstock when I redo this project.  For now I am happy with my side table.   

                                                Quartrefoil Lamp Shade

What began as a search for the perfect lamp shade changed to finding a lamp shade we could live with and change.  I found the pattern here: http://www.workshopsf.org/?p=614 .  Not only was it the perfect pattern but they also gave great advise of printing it on cardstock. The pattern below was easy enough to create once I grabbed my exacto knife.  I really want to use this pattern again on another piece of furniture but I have not decided which piece.

 

I had many things to choose from when it came to painting the lamp shade.  I knew what pattern I wanted but originally I wanted the entire shade to have the quartrefoil pattern but because of the three stripes around the bottom of the shade i decided it would look better with stripes.  

The finished lamp shade I am really happy I chose the yellow paint instead of the green because it really pops against the blue wall.  This project only took me about five hours and would have taken less if I didn't repaint two of the stripes several times.  This is my most recent project and I can't wait to find something else to paint. 

                                                       Shoe Book Case

  I have a slightly ridiculous obsession with shoes and I am only allowed to get more shoes if I have a place to store them.  My solution was to create a shoe storage for my pumps and boots since the shoe storage units you can buy don't fit any shoe with a 3" heel.  This project was very simple I bought a 3 shelf bookcase from target, you know the inexpensive ones!  I would have loved the 5 shelf book case but it wouldn't fit in my closet and since I am renting I can not physically change how the closet is set up. Taking inspiration from a few different places I decided to paint the backing the pretty blue color in my living room.  The picture really doesn't do the color justice.  I wish that I could fit more pairs of shoes on this because really 12 pairs is not very much but it will have to do until I have a home that isn't rented.    

I finished this project back in December but I had wanted to wait until i received my christmas present before posting pictures.  Unfortunately the light in my closet is not bright enough and so this picture is the only one that is somewhat decent sorry for the poor quality.  My living room has always lacked light and we only had one lamp at the time of this photo.

I have begun to realize that my home has really transformed in the last 8 months that we have lived here.  When I walk in I don't feel like I am walking into an apartment like I did in my previous residences, but I feel like I am walking into my home.  I have also learned just how much I enjoy layering and using various patterns in the same room.  I have been tempted lately to stencil the quartrefoil pattern on my empty wall in my bedroom.  Using a glossy finish in the same paint color that is on the wall will add a subtle but interesting effect to a wall that doesn't have much going for it. It may be awhile until I do any more decorating in the home but I know some cleaning is going to be taking place very soon.