Newspaper Bird Art Tutorial

As promised, here is a very short tutorial for the newspaper bird art that I featured in one of my past posts.

I had a credit left on Copious.com so I decided I might as well use it on something. Then I found this confetti, perfectly shaped to match my bird/nature theme, and I had to buy it! It was only about $2.50, I cant remember the exact amount. I had no idea what I was going to do with it but finally settled on this.

What you need:
-Double sided tape
-Bird confetti (see below)
-Picture frame
-Copy paper

Bought this on Copious.com, but you can also purchase something very similar on Etsy.com.

Basically all I did was take a sheet of paper, cut it to fit the frame (mine was 5 x 7) and then start lining them up. I used double sided tape to stick each separate bird on.

Then at the very end, as you can see in the first picture, I took a bird, traced it, cut it out, then using a yellow marker fill it in to make one accent yellow bird. You could really place it anywhere you wanted and fill it in with whatever color you want.

Put it in your frame and you're done! I know my tutorial doesn't have very many pictures but it's super easy so this should be helpful enough. 

It's All Coming Together

I know it's been long, too long, since my last post but hopefully this post will make up for it. Feel free to share in my excitement when I say...

The day has finally come that I can start buying/making things for my dream room!

Remember all those posts I made about getting my first bedroom, having a place I can call my own, feeling safe in my own room, etc. Well I can now stop dreaming about it and instead start living that dream.

I'm literally smiling as i write this post, but can you blame me? This is the first time in my entire 16 years of life when I can actually say I have my own room and have friends spend the night. 

Take a look at what I've got so far.

DIY Bird Silhouette Art. I created these by printing pictures online and putting them in these frames that I bought. I originally got this idea from Live Love DIY. If you want to create your own, just google "free printable bird silhouettes" and get to printing. The frames came in a pack of three for $6.99 at TJMaxx. Great deal or what?

DIY Newspaper Bird Art. This was made using confetti, which I bought on Copious, but you can also purchase something similar on Etsy. There will be a tutorial for this up soon.

Frames. I purchased this picture frame set at TJMaxx for $6.99. This will be great for putting pictures of my friends, pets, whatever. I'll be sure to update when they are filled.

Pillows. These two pillow cases I made using fabric that I purchased on Amazon. The yellow one here, and the blue/gray one here. I only purchased one yard of each and made two pillows of the blue/gray and one of the yellow with a lot of fabric left over from both. Obviously these aren't stuffed yet but you'll see them wrinkle free and stuffed hopefully soon.

Also I wanted to show you my new room design plan. It was originally going to be blue, purple, white, and black themed but I realized that color scheme just isn't "me" so I changed it to this:

credit: scadet on polyvore

Yellow, blue, gray, and white. This color scheme I am truly in love with. Everything about it is pure perfection. I love the hints of "glamour", the natural element, the patterns, just everything! This is exactly what I want for my room. I also love the bird/nature theme, which I decided to do as well.

I still have major purchases that I need to make. Nightstands, lamps, lamp remotes (I'll explain later), bedding, a headboard, and a dresser.

Hopefully you like bedroom makeovers/decor stuff because there's going to be a lot of that going on these next few months. 

So Far...

UPDATE 8/17/2012: A lot has changed since this post, to see my newest design plans, click here.

Here is everything I have done so far for my bedroom makeover. Can you tell I'm super excited? In five months I'll finally be buying furniture, bedding, curtains, etc. but for now this is where I am...

Like I said in a past post, I went back on Polyvore and updated the set I created for my vision of my room. I originally had a black/white/purple(s) color scheme but I've since added in some dusty blues. I want a more fun color palette and not have it so strict.

(All paints are from Behr)

This goes along with what I have just mentioned...I went ahead and chose paint colors as a guide for the color scheme of my room. Like I said, this house that we live in is a rental so I can't paint the walls but I did get paint samples so that I can match the pillows, bedding, furniture, etc. I want to make sure my color palette isn't all over the place.

*sorry for blurry picture*

Another thing I want to mention is one of the art pieces I am creating for my room. (remember I said I wanted to make the room my own by actually putting in DIY pieces?) I'm beginning to create a picture frame with cut-out magazine letters all glued together randomly. I think it's a simple way to add color and excitement to the room. I'll make another post once it's all done.

30 Day Challenge: Day 26

A picture.

Here is a Polyvore set I created to showcase my vision of the dream bedroom I will get started on in approximately five months when summer break begins!

I originally wanted a black and white room with purple accents but I've since changed my mind and now I'm thinking black, white, purple, and light blue.

It's just a lot easier (and more fun) to not be on such a strict color palette. With the the purple no longer being an accent and instead being a part of the color scheme, it's more of an effortless room rather than a picture-perfect-room-with-no-story. Also the added in light blue will add more femininity to the room as well as personality.

I've decided that I want to go thrifting for almost all the furniture. The nightstands, desk, headboard and a dresser. The bench I'll most likely buy at JCPenney.

Don't you think it would be more fun to sandpaper all the furniture and repaint it  all white or black? It make me feel like I was a huge part of my room and that I accomplished something.

I'll probably be recreating this set or making a new one so that I can better visualize this new concept.

P.S. I'm so excited, I'll be taking pictures and videos to show you just what I'm up to when it comes to my new room!

30 Day Challenge: Day 23

Five things you've been obsessed with lately.

Image: I do not know owner, nor do I own this image. 

Victoria's Secret. Pretty much anything related to that name. I just purchased the bikini top I mentioned on my last BYOC post and I am SO excited to have that sexy thing on me! I also bought another bikini top, it's a bright pink, polka dotted bikini top that I got on clearance for only $9.99 and it's push up! They had a Thanksgiving promo; free shipping on all U.S. orders (no limits!). Of course I took advantage, got both for only $60. Seriously...I cannot wait for them to get here.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net / stockimages

My camera. Remember how excited I was to get my Nikon Coolpix s3000 last year? Well, I'm still excited about it now! It takes great pictures and is really easy to work with. Getting macro shots is kind of a pain but I've gotten used to it and found other ways to make it work.

http://www.iamthatlady.com

Swagbucks. What is it you may ask? Well swagbucks.com is a GPT site that allows you to complete offers, play games, use their own search engine, and watch videos for points (but in their case they call the points "swagbucks") once you reach a certain amount of points you get to redeem them for a prize. I normally get Paypal giftcards. I've earned over $50 from this site and I plan on earning  more.

And no matter what anyone says, this is NOT a scam website. It actually works. How do you think I purchased that bikini I just mentioned? Through my earnings on Swagbucks.

Image/template: designerblogs.com

Blog templates. I am currently looking for blog designs for my nail polish blog I have. I really like the one above but I am always on the hunt for something even better. This one is from designerblogs.com who has premade templates, customs and free blog backgrounds. I want something as simple as this with accents. This one is perfect. Isn't it just gorgeous? I plan on purchasing in the next couple months.

(a rough sketch of my dream room)

A bedroom makeover. I actually share a room with my sister but soon they (my brother and sister) will be leaving for college and I will have a room to myself. Finally!

I have never in entire life had my own room. Whether we were in a condo, house, apartment, hotel motel...I always had to share a room with my sister.

So,of course, I am insanely excited to get my own room and also design it.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net / MR LIGHTMAN

We rent a town-home so I can't go too crazy but since the walls are white I am basing the room around that. The bed frame, dresser and nightstands will be black. The bedspread/pillows will be black white and purple. There will be purple curtains, a white bench near the window (with purple pillows) and a black rug under the bench (this I'm still considering). Then I will have my computer along the side of one wall and my T.V. directly across from my bed on the dresser. I have a big walk in closet so there won't be a need for more than one dresser.

It's going to be beautiful and of course I will be taking pictures of everything and the process!