Easy Decor: Starfish Canvas

I was recently made aware of the fact that I do not have very much decor in my home. I already knew this of course, but had not bothered to do much more than the few sturdy pieces I own. We have moved a lot in the last few years and I have lost decor due to me not liking it well enough to move it, so I gave it away, or damage. Well, I decided I had better do something about it, since it's not really acceptable for a mid-twenties couple with kids to rock the 'bachelor pad' style.

This is my starting project- a super easy wall hanging for my bathroom. Here is how you can make one for yourself in less than 2 hours!

You will need:

• 12"x 12" canvas from the craft store (or any other size you wish) I got mine on sale (50% off) for $4.49
• A cured starfish (or other 3 dimensional object of choice) I got the big starfish at the craft store for $2.99 (wish I would have snagged the starfish from the beach that one time...)
• A few colors of acrylic paint. I already had those, but you can get the store brand for about $0.89 each at a craft store (less if you use coupons!) I used 3 colors (periwinkle, lavender and silver). You can use as many or as little colors as you want!
• Half a kitchen sponge
• Container for paint. I use a disposable food storage sandwich box.
• Paintbrush. You only need it to stir your paint. 
• Craft adhesive. I get the super strong stuff because it lasts forever. This time I used Fab-Tac, which cost me $8.99 for a bottle, but I probably used about $0.10 worth of it.

1. Create a work space. I did mine on top of my washing machine with an old towel covering it. Wherever you chose to work, protect the surface from paint with an old towel or t-shirt.

2. Make sure you have all materials and have them at hand.

3. Pour your first paint color into paint container and add a small amount of water to thin it out for sponge painting

4. Begin using your sponge to apply paint to the surface of the canvas. You control how much or how little paint you apply, so you may want to be light handed on the first pass to get a feel for it, or test it on cardboard first. Example below:

5. Cover entire canvas with first color, but don't forget to do the side edges too!

6. After completing your first color, do the second color the same way. I chose to do the lavender first, and then I thinned the periwinkle a little more and did it second to give it a little bit more of a watercolor effect. You can try different techniques on cardboard if you are not sure what you want the effect of yours to be. I finished mine with a few light sponges of silver to give it a little sparkle, but you can chose whatever color scheme you want, that is the greatest part of a DIY project!

This is my finished sponge paint.

 7. After your canvas has been completed and dried, use your craft glue to apply your 3 dimensional object (in my case, a starfish). Apply the glue to the back of the object being careful to not spread too much where it might become visible. Place 3 dimensional object on canvas and leave flat to dry. The bottle of adhesive will tell you how long you should let it dry.

8. Enjoy your artwork! This project should have cost you  $9.50 or less to create, it is customized to your colors and taste and takes less than 2 hours to make! 

Close up of textures

Finished product!

Black & White Quilt

Here is another project I have done in the last year. This black, white and pink quilt for a crib or toddler bed was an easy and fun one to make. I have plans to make another like this in purple, turquoise and lime green. Just thought I'd share. I'll share measurements for cuts too if anyone would like to make one of their own :)

DIY Dress Form!

I have always wanted a dress form, but I am not A.) Paying close to $200 for a dummy (I married one for free...j/k lol) or B.) Going to find one in my size (Size: Worlds tallest toothpick.). So, I found some really cool tutorials on Youtube for making a dress form out of duct tape. Yes, I know duct tape is pretty redneck, but that's how I roll. Here is how it went:

1. Made a muslin slip to wear for the tape to stick to.
2. Had my husband wrap me in duct tape (he liked it haha). I told him it will never happen again unless he decides to off me, and he had better not because I'll haunt him forever hahaha.
3. Had a panic attack. I'm claustrophobic. Being wrapped in duct tape is not for me. However, it was worth the saved money.
4. Had husband cut me out of duct tape before passing out. Proceeded to down several glasses of ice water while I sat on the floor calming down. Duct tape not only induced panic attacks in the claustrophobic, it is also very warm. If there was another ice age, I would rob the hardware store of duct tape for garment construction.
5. Taped form back together while my fantastic husband ran to Lowes for some supplies.
6. Husband came back with supplies and constructed a stand for my form. We hung it on the stand and filled it with paper. Then he drilled holes in it and filled in crucial areas with expanding foam. Expanding foam is great, as long as you don't get it on you. It is stickier than hell and only comes off with a lot of acetone.
7. Wait for foam to dry.....wait some more....still not dry....THIS SHIT TAKES FOREVER TO DRY!!!
8. Now that the foam is dry (took long enough, geez...) scraped the extra foam off.

...and now....I have a dress form...but it's still not finished. I found a couple of spots where there isn't enough foam, so, we will have to foam fill some more. After the darn thing is full of foam, I have plans to smooth out the few minor bumps and cover her in fabric so I don't have to stare at duct tape every day (she lives in my living room due to the absence of a craft room (darn kids, taking up all the space!)).