How to Reupholster a Chair

Do you have a couple of tacky dining room chairs that look like they came from the 70's?  Or are you a college kid who gets all the hand-me-downs and you just want something cute for your dorm?  Or maybe you just want to redecorate and that chair in the corner doesn't match?  Well why not reupholster it!!  It's actually REALLY easy and doesn't take long at all.  You just need to make sure you have all the right tools!


What you need:
1.  A chair
2.  Choice of fabric (about a yard or so)
3.  Staple gun and staples
4.  Screw driver (either flat or 4 pronged depending on which type of nails are in your chair)
5.  Scissors
6.  Toothpicks (if needed)*

Here's how you do it:
1.  Unscrew the piece to be upholstered from the chair frame and lay it on your fabric with the fabric facing the way you want it on the chair.
2.  Cut the fabric so that about 4 inches stick out from the sides around the chair bottom like this:

3.  Fold the top edge over and staple to the chair bottom.  Pull the opposite side over, pull tight and staple. I like to staple about 3 staples on each side.  Keep doing this until the sides are stapled tight.

4.  Now leaves the corners: pull the fabric back, tuck the sides in and fold over and place a staple on each side of the fold.  If this is too complicated or hard to follow, just try and fold the corners over in any way you can, secure them with staples and make sure no fabric sticks out!

5.  Now that your seat is all covered, let's reattach it!  You'll just need to hold it back on where you found it and twist the screws back in.  

*6.  If your holes are stripped like mine were because my chair had been reupholstered 4 times, then you'll have to use my toothpick trick.  Break a toothpick into 3 parts (1 toothpick per hole) and stick the 3 parts down into the screw hole.  This should give enough wood for your screw to hold on to!

You're done!! How easy was that.  Now time for a before and after photo:

BEFORE

AFTER

American Flag Cake

I know it's a little late for the 4th of July ( I made this on the 4th), but this may be a great idea for you to make next year, for labor day, memorial day or any other occasion in where you feel extra American!  This cake is SUPER easy and pretty inexpensive to make (especially if you're buying strawberries in the summer = cheap).  This cake is also super light so it's a perfect dessert if you've got a belly full of heavy BBQ. Also, it requires NO baking! Excellent!  Let's get started.

Here's what you'll need:

1.  Package of frozen pound cake (found in the freezer section)

2.  Tub of cool whip

3.  2 tubs of strawberries

4.  Tub of blueberries

5.  Glass or tin pan to put it all in

Here's how you do it:

1.  Once you bring the goods home from the grocery store, put the frozen pound cake in the fridge to let it thaw.  Make sure it thaws for a little while before you use it.

2.  Slice the pound cake into about 1cm thick slices to lay down on the bottom of the pan.

3.  Cover the pound cake with one whole tub of sliced strawberries and some blueberries.  I like to slice the strawberries into smaller pieces so you can eat them better.

4.  Dump the cool whip over the top of all of this and spread it out so the whole cake is covered.

5.  Slice the remaining strawberries in half.  Lay them round side up in lines and these will make the stripes.  Use the remaining blueberries to make the "stars" at the top left corner of the flag. 

***I really like making my own cool whip  (it just tastes soooo dang good) so I'm going to give you that recipe here if you'd like to use it for this cake or for anything else that requires cool whip.

Ingredients:

1.  Heavy whipping cream 1 cup

2.  Powdered sugar about 1/2 cup

3.  Vanilla extract 1 teaspoon

The how:

1.  make sure the cream is cold.  Place in a mixing bowl and beat with an electric egg beater on high until it starts to become fluffy.

2.  Add powdered sugar and vanilla and whip some more until it starts to look like it will become lumpy.

You're done!  It's so easy and mmmmmm that homemade whipped cream tastes delicious ugh!!!

Funky Photo Board

Tired of boring picture frames?  Need a display to easily show off all your latest concert tickets, graduation pictures or business cards?  Think that picture boards are too expensive, or not in the right fabric or frame for you?  Well you can change all of that to your liking!  Let's do this!

Supplies:

1.  Picture frame

2.  Fabric (I used two: lace and satin)

3.  Hot glue and glue gun

4.  Buttons

5.  Ribbon

6.  Paint (optional)

7.  Batting 

8.  Thread and sturdy needle

How you do this beauty:

1.  Take off the frame backing and discard the glass.

2.  Paint the frame with white paint slightly streaky so it comes out with an antique finish (if desired) and let dry.

3.  Cut out a piece of batting to fit the size of the frame back.

4.  Cut your fabric so that about an inch can wrap around to the back of the frame backing all the way around.

5.  Pull the fabric over the frame backing with the batting underneath and secure with hot glue all the way around, pulling tightly throughout.

6.  Cut strips of ribbon in lengths to make a criss cross pattern over the secured fabric.  Glue these strips only on the ends of the ribbon that are behind the back of the frame backing.

7.  Where the ribbons cross, pull a thread through the whole thing and sew a button tightly, pinching in the batting, fabric and ribbon.

You're all done, now add whatever items: pictures, ticket stubs, movie stubs, memos, recipes etc., to your new creation.  I swear it's easier than it looks!

Fabric Flower Hair Pins

Want a chick hairpiece for summer time?  Need a unique, easy, homemade hair accessory for the start of school?  I've got a simple project for you if you're up to the challenge of battling hot glue.  Let's get started!

This is what you need:

1.  Fabric of choice (The bargain bin at Hobby Lobby can have some great buys for pennies on the dollar!) (I find that lace ends up turning out beautiful and goes pretty much everything)

2.  Glue gun with glue sticks

3.  Sticky back felt (you can find a pack of assorted colors in the craft section at Walmart for only $2)

4.  Bobby pins

5.  Jewels, pearls, etc. for embellishment

6.  Scissors

7.  Tough fingers!! (this glue is ruthless if you make many at once!)

This is how you do it:

1.  Cut your fabric into a strip about an inch wide and about 3 feet long depending on the size of your desired flower.

2.  Twist the strip so it makes a rope like string.

3.  Roll the fabric into a small wheel and glue on one side only, making sure all seams are glued together.

4.  Once the glue has cooled a little, press your thumb into the glue to make sure the fabric is stuck together.

5.  Continue twisting the fabric and rolling the wheel while glueing at the seams and pressing until the flower is your desired size.  Cut the fabric and glue the frayed end over to the back of the flower to secure.

6.  Cut out a circle of the sticky back felt about the size of the flower.

7.  Peel off the sticky back cover, open the bobby pin and slip the sticky felt in with the sticky side facing out.

8.  Press the Rossette to the sticky felt to secure the bobby pin to the flower (add a little hot glue to each end to make sure it's totally secured)

9.  If desired glue a pearl, jewel, etc. to the top of the rossette for added flair!

There you have it!  It might sound a little confusing but you can do it!  Just feel the pattern of the flower and how the rolls into a wheel make a round flower.  Leave any questions in the comments section if you need more assistance!  I LOVE these hairpieces!  They go with anything and hold your hair back easily for a hot summer day.

Sweet Berry Cupcakes

These are one of my absolute favorite cupcakes to make AND eat!  They're light, fluffy and filled with fruit to make it a great snack, light dessert and delicious summer treat!  Watch out though, they might all be gone in a few days (especially if you have a granny like mine who can eat 3 in one sitting).

Ingredients:
1.  Box of White Cake Mix
2.  Water
3.  Eggs (you'll need just the whites)
4.  Vegetable oil
5.  Raspberries
6.  Blueberries
7.  Cupcakes sleeves
8.  Cupcake pan
9.  2 boxes of Cream Cheese
10.  Powdered Sugar
11.  Vanilla Extract

How to make the cupcakes:
1.  Preheat the oven to 350.
2.  Mix the cake mix according to the instructions on the box.  Getting the egg whites can be a little tricky.  I like to put them in a separate bowl incase I mess up!
3.  Mix in the raspberries and about 1/2 to 3/4 of the blueberries.
4.  Scoop in the mixture with a ladle until each cupcake sleeve is about 3/4 full.
5.  Place in the oven for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
6.  Let cool for about 10 to 15 minutes.

How to make the icing:
1.  Melt the cream cheese in microwave for about a minute.  If it's not melted all the way, put it back in for another minute or until creamy and smooth.
2.  Mix in 1/2 cup to a cup of powdered sugar until it meets your sweetness level.
3.  Add in a teaspoon of vanilla extract.
4.  Mix until smooth and creamy!
5.  Scoop into a plastic baggy and put into the fridge to let cool.
6.  Once it's cooled, cut a dime sized hole at the corner of the bag and ice the cupcakes in a swirl fashion starting from the outside going in.  Dab the icing and pull up in the middle of the cake!

You're done!!  Now sink those teeth into the most juicy, delectable cupcake you've had all summer. Yummmmmmmm!

Lace Hat Boxes

So I had some old, ugly hat boxes that matched my room when I was a kid.  Needless to say they didn't quite match my current decor.  If this doesn't sound like you, but you like the idea of a cute hat box for decoration and/or storage, then I've got the solution for you.

This is what you need:

1.  A cardboard hat box. (only $3 for one about 8 inches in diameter!)

2.  Spray paint in two colors (you may need two cans of each if doing more than one box,  I used 2 cans of each and I had 4 boxes with hard to cover prints)

3.  Lace fabric (you can get a roll of it at Hobby Lobby for $2)

4.  Newspaper

5.  Scissors

6.  Tape

This is how you pull this off:

1.  Spray paint the bottom section of the box laying upside down in one color.  Spray the lid in the other color.

2.  Once the lid has dried lay the lace over the lid and tape the edges underneath to it's pulled tight and covers the whole lid.

3.  Spray over the lace in the same color as the bottom of the box.

4.  Pull the lace off the lid once you're done painting so it doesn't dry and stick to the lid.

5.  Let all of your items dry and tada!  You're done!

Now you've got a cute decorative piece to add to your room.  Plus it's functional as storage!  Win win!

SUPER Cheap and Easy Wall Art

Want some contemporary wall art?  Have an awkward, empty wall space at home you just need to fill?  Well I've got a super cheap alternative to sifting through tons of artwork, shopping for hours and paying tons of money.  Let's get started!

Here's what you'll need:

1.  A canvas.  I get mine at Big Lots and they run for about $4 wahoo!

2.  Acrylic Paint in whichever color you choose (only $1)

3.  Paper: in any color or any type (I chose a color the same as the paint I used)

4.  Hot glue gun with glue sticks

5.  Beads (any kind)

6.  Paint brush

Here's how you do it:

1.  Paint the canvas in the color you chose

2.  Now for the flowers (it can get a bit tricky explaining it in writing so pay attention)

     a.  Cut out tear drop shapes.  You'll need four per flower so make all four the same size.

     b.  Cut a slit about a centimeter long at the pointy end of the tear drop.  Like this:

     c.  Fold the flaps on either side of the slit over each other and glue so that it makes a 3D petal.  Like this:

     d.  Now that you've done it to each of the 4 petals, glue them all together in the middle.  I usually place a drop of glue a the end of one petal, glue 2 on each side and then place one more drop of glue to attach the final petal to the other 3.

     e.  Glue a bead, pearl or jewel to the center of the petal for a final touch!

3.  Now glue the flowers, in various sizes, to the dried canvas in whatever fashion you'd like.

Fun Flag Border

Have wedding planning to do that you want to make unique?  Are you getting a surprise birthday party ready that you want to make super special?  Or are you just decorating a room that needs that original touch?  I have a fast and easy way for you to do it.  How about you make a flag border!

Here's what you need:

1.  3 fabrics of your choice (I picked a color theme of white, black and turquoise)

2.  String or ribbon that needs to be pretty long (I choose a thin twine)

3.  Hot glue and glue gun

4.  Paper/cardboard/cardstock (for making a triangle pattern)

5.  GOOD scissors 

Here's how you do it:

1.  Make a triangle pattern on your sturdy paper.  It can be complicated if free handing so I used a straight edge and several tries to get the one I wanted.  You can make it whatever size you want but I did mine about the size of my hand if I was making a jazz hand.

2.  Cut out about 15 triangles of each fabric (You can cut out less if you want a smaller banner)

3.  Now here's the sticky part.  Hot glue!  Glue a line across the top of the first flag, place the string over the glue and fold the top edge over it, essentially making a small fold over the string to hold the flag in place!

4.  About 2 inches from the first flag, glue the second flag just like you did in step 3.

5.  Continue steps 3 and 4 until all the flags are glued on to the string in alternating fashion (you can either do them randomly or in a pattern)

Now your flag banner is done!  Here are some more cute ways to fashion them.  You can even put letters on them and use it as a cute engagement photo accessory! Go here here and here for some more cute examples!

Key Lime Cupcakes

Need a sweet and tangy summer treat?  Well I've got the perfect one for you, Key Lime Cupcakes!! (They're my dad's favorite!)

Here's how to make them:

The Cupcake Ingredients

1. Box of Lemon cake mix

2. Two limes (key limes if you can find them!) to squeeze 1/3 cup or more for tangy-ness

3. Small box of lime jello

4. 1/3 cup Vegetable oil

5. 3 Eggs

6. 3/4 cups Water

7. Cupcake sleeves

8. Cupcake pan

Icing Ingredients

1. 2 boxes of cream cheese

2. 1/2 cup to 1 cup of powdered sugar (at more according to the sweetness you desire)

3. 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

How to make them

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Mix cake mix and jello mix together

3. Poor in the rest of the ingredients and mix well (by hand or by egg beater)

*it might be a little hard to squeeze limes by hand so slice them to smaller slices for easier squeezing if you don't have a juicer

4. Fill cupcake sleeves about 3/4 full

5. Slip into the oven for about 20 minutes or until you can insert a toothpick and it comes out clean.

6. Let the cupcakes cool for 10-15 minutes.

7. Ice with the sweet cream icing I'll tell you how to make below.

Now for the icing

1. Put the two blocks of cream cheese into a microwavable bowl and microwave for a minute.

2. Take out the cream cheese and mix.  If it's not smooth and creamy, put in the microwave for one more minute or until there are no chunks left.

3. Mix in the powdered sugar until at your desired sweetness.

4. At the vanilla and mix until blended.

5. Put into large plastic baggy and put into the fridge.

6. Once cooled, cut the corner of the baggy so you can ice the cupcakes.

7. Ice in swirls going from the outside in and dab and pull up in the middle.

Enjoy these sweet summer treats.  They're perfect for entertaining!

recipe can also be found here