9.29.2008

Mod Podge, Screws and Being Stumped

Have you ever had a room that just stumped you?  That is my living room.  I will tell you more about it soon, but the basics are that I am in the midst of trying to overhaul it, and the following piece just didn't work in my new color scheme:

I made this piece with some old fabric scraps a while back, and now the colors are just wrong for the room.  So one day I got "my shorts in a bunch" (don't you love that expression?) and changed it up.  First, I found some cute scrapbook paper and Mod Podged it (underneath the paper and on top of the paper for extra coverage) to some cardboard.

Next I found the center of the square and put a screw through it.  I have these cute little hooks that I discovered at my local antique shop/flea market for $3 each.  I thought they would be perfect for the project.  (As an aside, I have also seen similar cute hooks and knobs at Hobby Lobby for anyone else who might be on the hunt!)

Once everything was screwed in and completely dry, I glue gunned the cardboard into the frame.  
And here is the new piece!  I actually made two of them: this one has a dragonfly hook in the center, and the paper is a pretty toile in a chocolate brown.  The other is a simple French-looking black and white pattern with a butterfly hook in the center.

They look so cute on either side of my grandmother's hutch!  Below is one view of the living room that has been giving me so much trouble.  I'll show you the "before and after" of the rest of the room as it comes together, hopefully in the next few weeks! 

How about you?  Do you have a room that is "stumping" you, no matter how you try to tweak it?


31 comments:

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

I love what you did with the frame.....the hook was the perfect touch!!! Fantastic....

My family room is driving me nuts....I am thrilled with the funiture and layout, but my walls are bare...can't figure out what or where to hang things.....It is a double story family room, so there is a LOT of wall...still working on it 1.5 years after we have moved in:(

Lisa

Anonymous said...

Cute idea!

My bedroom was stumping me for a while but now I have some ideas flowing which is fun! When it is all done I plan on posting about it. It is still a work in progress!

Amanda said...

My landing/widow's walk at the top of the stairs, weirdest space...I'll have to post pics, love the frames, are the hooks just for decoration I take it? I am excited to post my weekend finds - they are awesome!!!

Sibi said...

Dear Queen!

I left you a little surprise over at Pearls and Grace!

Have a beautiful and blessed week!

Sebi

Jboo said...

I'm afraid to say this -- but all my rooms are stumping me! Aaack!
Love your project!

Janet

Free Art Printables said...

My downstairs wich is our TV room but I can't even come up with anything because of all of the toys!I know it has potential, butI just turn a blind eye for now! ;)

Wendy said...

I love the dragonfly hook...so cute! And as for rooms that stump me...my master bedroom. Just can't stand the hand me down furniture and I don't even know if paint will fix it. sigh. :-)

The Golf Widow said...

Great Idea. Thanks for visiting my blog.The bead picture is actually a past Valentine picture.My daughters loved to play with the old mardi gras beads and one year I just took a few pictures. They were adorable, so I have taken one every year. It helps when they have props to keep them happy and still! :)

Julie said...

that looks great. I think my whole flat does that to me. But since we live in Europe and we don't have closets, we have furniture everywhere to be practical and it is so annoying that I cannot really "decorate" a lot!

Sandy said...

You're always up to something Carrie - LOL! Looks great!

We have a 70s house that needs a lot of work. Just too busy w/teens these days to put the time and money in to it ... but we will someday :)

Happy MondaY!

Marie said...

I love how you reworked your frame! You can never go wrong with toile, in my opinion!

I always have a room that stumps me. I have a weird spot in my living room I have no idea how to fix. And my loft? It's crying out for help. lol

Shell in your Pocket said...

How cute is that! I love the hook!

Yes, my den stumps me...it is full of furniture and stuff but it just doesn't feel right no matter what I do!

I love that background on the picture!
Happy Monday!
-Sandy Toes

Sweet Simplicity said...

My mantle on my fireplace stumps me! It isn't very wide so I can never get what I want to fit up there. It has caused quite the drama at my house!

Whitney said...

Well look how cute that is!! Beautiful!

Ms. Tee said...

So, so cute! I just love it!

Stacey @ The Blessed Nest said...

Love the art change! So pretty! Seems there's always an area of the house that "stumps" me, no matter where I've lived. Currently, I'm just overall stumped on color for the sunroom walls! I hate to paint, so I want to get it right (pale sage or white) the 1st time! Can't wait to see what you're doing in the rest of the room.

Blessings,
Stacey

Lisa said...

Love it! It looks great! My unfinished basement stumps me...it's just full of toy's...I try to keep it somewhat organized, but it's hard to do with a 4 & 7 year old. : )

edie said...

Carrie,
My kitchen stumps me but it needs more than that adorable project you did. I need to knock out some walls, get some gorgeous granite, walnut wood floor, a Viking stove, and white subway tile. I'm not asking for much !!

Allie said...

Wow! What a great idea!

I just moved all the furniture around in the living room, and I think that's helped, because I was really stumped. I found a shelf at a garage sale, and I think I'm going to paint it black, and maybe find a few more accents I can do the same to.

Jen - Balancing Beauty and Bedlam said...

Yep, lots of stumped rooms. :)
I LOVE your project...too cute.

Genny said...

You inspire me. Thank you! I've been itching for some change in my house lately and I may just start with something like this.

the undomesticated wife said...

Another smart project! Turned out great!

Let's see...what room stumps me...all of them. I have grand ideas, but when I get everything done, it looks nothing like it did in my head. Arg!

julie & joe said...

That is too cute! I love the frames.

Lisa & Gerald said...

Hey Carrie
I love what you did to your living room you alway have great idea's girl!

Jodee said...

That turned out great!

I forgot to tell you that you inspired me to paint some tables white. I will be posting them soon!

Victoria said...

Love the "hooks"!

My kitchen is stumping me these days.

Melissa said...

Girl, stop! Cute idea overload! I love it~these are too cute and the perfect something when you need just a little something somewhere :)

Amber said...

Fun project! I have that exact same damask paper that I bought a couple of weeks ago to line the inside of a buffet I am refinishing. Now, if I can just find the vintage hinges I need to put it back together :) I can finally show pictures of the finished project!

Anonymous said...

Wow, It is fun. I love it.

Darlene said...

I LOVE that project....it is REALLY cute!! I LOVE the toile you used!

Blogger said...

I love that! I have a frame that I could use for a project just like that.

The room that is stumping me right now is my office/playroom...and that is probably why it is stumping me...it is a multipurpose room...yet, I really don't do any office work in there and my kids don't play in there, lol. They just keep their toys in there..bring the in the living room and that is where they stay. It's just more comfortable in our living room. I need a solution for that room...but not today ;)

Bella