Pinterest and the Pauper feature and update!

My little blog has been featured on a super fun website called homeheaven.com.au! I am so excited! They did a piece on recycling old furniture into something new, and asked to use my popular chevron cabinet make-over. Here is the direct link:  http://homeheaven.com.au/renovations-repairs/diy/gallery/recycled-diy-decorations-your-home/recycled-diy-decorations-your. This site is so much fun, I don't even know where to begin! Go check it out!

As I took a closer look at my blog, I decided it needed a new simpler look. I gave the blog itself a small make-over and spent 3 days going through links and images. If you see anything not working, please let me know! 

Thank you to everyone who has visited Pinterest and the Pauper! You are awesome! Thanks for the love!

-Happy Pinning!

How To Paint Your Front Door!

Painting your front door seems like a pretty straight forward thing, right? Roll on some paint and ta da? What I did not think about when painting my front door was all the dings, dents, dirt, and weather that it has withstood. Not to mention the old "Welcome Home" sticker that was basically glued and faded to the middle of the door. It is most likely the door the house came with and I do not know how many little hands have touched it, but we have been here for over a year now and it was time for some TLC.

I just happened to stumble upon a tutorial on Pinterest about a month before I painted. It must have been meant to be! When I went to paint the front door, I followed the tutorial step by step and ta da! A clean and new found front door!  I couldn't get rid of some of the bigger dents and this is a rental, but you get the idea! Our newly painted blue front door....

Before

After

Painting your front door isn't any harder than painting a wall, but there is a technique that makes it look flawless! Here is the link to the tutorial:

http://www.theidearoom.net/2012/06/how-to-paint-a-door.html

Supplies:

1) Your choice of colored indoor or outdoor paint. I used the color Indigo Clothe by Valspar in a Satin finish from Lowe's. I only used 1 and 1/2 of their sample jars! Total of $6!

2) A roller brush

3) Regular angle brush 2 inches wide or so.

4) Sand paper

5) Painters tape

6) Possibly primer if you need it.(I didn't use it on this project. My door is under a large area of house and porch so it doesn't get a lot of sun or weather, etc.)

How To:

1) Tape off any areas that you don't want paint touching. 

2) Remove what hardware you can. If you can't remove it, cover it well in tape.

3) Remove anything from the door such as old tape or stickers.

4) Sand any rough areas down.

5) Clean the door well with water and soap. Let dry.

6) Now that you have a nice clean and smooth front door, paint! Starting with the indented areas first. Use the angle brush.

7) After the indented areas are painted, paint their raised middles. Now each panel should look painted.

8) Now using the roller brush, paint the very middle strip of door that runs top to bottom. Paint in up and down with vertical strokes.

9) Next, Paint the very middle area that runs horizontal with left to right brush strokes. Now all the panels and middle areas should be painted with only the outer door areas exposed.

10) Starting at the top area of the door, paint all the outside edge areas. The top and bottom areas are left to right strokes, while the sides that run top to bottom are up and down strokes. 

11) Repeat coats in the same manner until the door is nice and even.

(See the original tutorial for more photos)

Side tip: If you are worried about brush strokes you can use this stuff you mix with the paint that makes the paint dry slower. Ask your local hardware store! I didn't use any, but some of you may have really nice flat doors that would look amazing with some extra umph!

This project cost me less than $20. It only took about 2 or 3 hours and most of that was coats of paint drying. It didn't take much effort and really changed the look of the front door! If you just want a simple front door change, grab some paint and switch it up! Have fun with it, but keep your HOA in mind. Ha!

Have a great week and happy Pinning!

Summertime wreath!

Ok, so last week I showed you my front door make-over. I'm really liking it! I am enjoying its simplicity, especially since it didn't break the bank and it adds something fun before you even enter my home. A preview, so to speak....

Today I'm going to show you how to make a pretty Summertime wreath. Woot! Bring on some color! I saw this wreath on Pinterest and it hung on a navy door. I said to myself, "I MUST HAVE THAT!" and so began the make-over. The wreath itself was honestly one of the easiest to put together(no really!) and with very minimal effort. Just the supplies, hot glue, some floral wire, and about an hour of my time. I wish I could say it was under $20 but it was closer to about $25-$30. Still not bad! And its so easy, even those who consider them selves "craftless" can do it!

So here it is...My pretty summertime wreath (on my new blue door)!

Here's the How To:

Supplies:

1) A grapevine or twig/branch type wreath. ($6.99 full price at Hobby Lobby)

2) A green small leaf type garland. (Hobby Lobby on sale 50% off, so it was about $8)

3) A flower spray type garland. (Hobby Lobby on sale 50% off, so $8 as well)

4) Wood letter of your last name or a monogram. Whatever you want to hang in the middle.(Hobby Lobby at about $3)

5) Hot glue gun and glue sticks.

6) Floral wire.

7) Your choice of ribbon. I used burlap ribbon.

8) Small piece of twine.

9) Your choice of paint for your wood letter.

To Make:

1) Paint or even modge podge your wooden letter and let dry. Set aside for later.

2) Using floral wire, secure the green garland to the wood branches of the wreath. Its going to hang somewhere so make sure its on there nice and tight!

3) On top of the green garland, add the floral garland using the floral wire as well. Secure this in several places over and under the other garland. Nice and tight! 

4) Use hot glue gun to add additional security where you think it needs it.

5) Make a bow from your ribbon and chose where you want to fasten it. I used both floral wire and hot glue.

6) Underneath your bow, hang your letter using the twine. Secure the twine to the actual branch part of the wreath for security. 

7) Hang on your front door!

That's it! No wrapping, pinning, flower making, or hot gluing your fingers together. Ha! So easy!

Here is the Pin of inspiration:

http://www.onsuttonplace.com/2014/03/simply-spring-a-diy-wreath/

Her blog is SUPER cute and she has the original tutorial on her site with more photos as well. Hop on over and have a look!

Next week I am showing you how to paint a front door properly. Stay tuned!

As always, Happy Pinning!

~Amanda