An Update On My DIY Tufting Technique!

Remember this cute little <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/11/sponsored-post-how-to-upholster-framed.html" target="_blank">magenta velvet headboard</a> I made for the girls' room when we lived in the loft? I finally got around to tufting the matching twin headboard before the Domino shoot so we could make the headboards the sides of a daybed for the playroom.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 19.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/19.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 39.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/39.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 22.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/22.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Like I've mentioned a million times before, we were in such a hurry to get everything done. In an attempt to make this project go a little faster (tufting isn't all that hard... but it can be time consuming), I realized that I could completely bypass the whole threading-a-button-through-the-headboard-holes thing by just carefully screwing a wide-headed screw down in through the hole I had made in the foam.<br /><br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5615.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_5615.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The only potentially tricky part is making sure you're putting the screw in the exact right place. I ended up screwing in pilot holes before hand, so I all had to do was find the pilot hole (blindly) with the point of my screw before using the drill to put in the screw.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5621.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_5621.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />It's important to use screws that aren't too long (unless you wont see the back at all) and that have a wide enough head to hold back all the fabric from the tuft. I used a little bit of high-loft batting and linen in the same magenta color to back the headboard and cover any of the screw holes.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 21.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/21.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />This little trick saved me literally hours of labor time! And it looks great! I just used fabritac to glue in the buttons into the tufts and I think now it would be hard for even me to tell which headboard was the one I spent more time on! :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 20.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/20.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 23.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/23.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Oh! I also wanted to mention another little tufting trick I discovered a week or two ago. My sister, Ali, is about to have a sweet baby girl (yay!!) and she wanted to redo her bedroom before the baby came. We made a tufted headboard and the velvet we were using was a little thick and it was getting tricky to make the fabric not look too lumpy. I cut deep grooves into the foam and that made a little pocket for the fabric to sit into AND it made it super, super easy to get the diamond shape perfect and nearly wrinkle-free every single time.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5882.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_5882.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5885.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_5885.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Just a few little tips in case you're hoping to tackle a tufting project soon! :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 24.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/24.jpg" /></div>

An Update On My DIY Tufting Technique!

Remember this cute little magenta velvet headboard I made for the girls' room when we lived in the loft? I finally got around to tuftin...

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DIY Geometric Cube Painted Floor

<center></center><center></center>For the longest time, I've had <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-balcony-floor.html" target="_blank">plans to paint a geometric cube pattern</a> on an exterior floor. I really hoped to get to do it on our balcony porch in Brooklyn, but we moved before the weather gave me a good chance to patch the cracked concrete. When we moved to the Valley house I thought this little back porch area we have just off the kitchen and living room would be the perfect chance to scratch that itch!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5747.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_5747.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I ended up going with a <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/05/bathroom-reno-progress-and-new-sputnik.html" target="_blank">tumbling block tile</a> in the bathroom, so I wanted this pattern to feel different. I saved this image a while back and it felt like the perfect inspiration - the proportions seemed easy enough to recreate (which, WRONG. Triangles, you kill me!) and it seemed like it wouldn't be too crazy on the eyes when painted on a large surface.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo MVML23.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/MVML23.jpg" /></div><a name="more"></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The first step was cleaning the concrete. We used a power wash sprayer to clean the old concrete and then we tried to not step on it before we got the first coat of water-based porch and floor paint down. I ended up watering down the paint because I wanted the finish to be a little mottled or translucent, so it almost, almost looked like a stain instead of paint. I mostly just didn't want the solid, flat look of a painted floor. Not that I was trying to age it, but I also didn't want the floor to look brand new and I think the watery paint helped get that look.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5507.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_5507.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then Kate and I worked to tape out the beginnings of the pattern. We knew we wanted the pattern to be on the larger side, so we made the main criss-cross pattern 12" wide.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7447.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_7447.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then it was time to put our heads together and do some serious math. I don't hate math at all, but I can't remember a lot of what I learned in trig and calculus, but luckily my smart husband has a memory like a steel trap and he busted out some formulas that helped us figure out the right angles. The most helpful measurement ended up being the hypotenuse (which was a little under 27 and 3/4"). Once we had that line measurement, we could back our way into the distance between the other angles and lines and it was easy to mark and then lay down the diagonal lines of tape.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo bIMG_7450.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/bIMG_7450.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7454.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_7454.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It felt a little tricky when we were in the thick of it, but it really wasn't all that bad. I think I was just nervous because I knew every measurement had to be spot-on perfect for the pattern to look right.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo bIMG_7481.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/bIMG_7481.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo vIMG_7486.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/vIMG_7486.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Somehow I can't find the photos of this part, but I divided the 27.71 hypotenuse number in half to figure out the dimensions of a diamond. I draw and cut out a diamond shape on poster board and used it like a stencil to trace out the smaller diamond in each of the larger diamonds. I also used a straight edge to make a line connecting the side point of the smaller diamond with the larger (you can see this in two photos down).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7465.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_7465.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We watered down more porch and floor paint and filled in the shapes. We used Benjamin Moore's Titanium on the background, the white is Swiss Coffee, the yellow is Ochre and the darkest gray is Martha Stewart's Seal.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7496.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_7496.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Kate and I have pretty steady painting hands, so I felt comfortable free-handing the lines, but it wouldn't have been too hard to tape off the small shapes one by one for perfectly perfect lines.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5509.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_5509.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There were some spots that the tape pulled off the bottom layer of paint, but I think that had more to do with the concrete prep than the paint or the tape. I could have easily just touched up the lines and called it good, which we did to a little of, but we used a light hand there and even ended up lightly sanding the whole floor to take some of that new edge off. (again, that was a personal preference thing).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 5.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/5.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The result was just what I was hoping for. I know this floor is going to take a beating, so I didn't want it to look too precious from the get-go. We put two coats of porch sealer on top, and so far no big problems with scraping or flaking, even in this 115 degree heat! :)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 9.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/9.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/2.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I love seeing the pattern peek through the living room doors, and the girls love playing a crazy version of hopscotch on the pattern. We're excited for better weather too, when we can really start to enjoy the porch again and eat our meals outside. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/1.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div>

DIY Geometric Cube Painted Floor

For the longest time, I've had plans to paint a geometric cube pattern on an exterior floor. I really hoped to get to do it on our balc...

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DIY Yellow Curtains for the Playroom

There are only two bedrooms on the main floor of our house, the master bedroom and a large-ish room at the front of the house. For the first few months that we lived here, I used it as <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/01/diy-white-board-wall.html" target="_blank">my office space</a>, but it just didn't really work for some reason. Then I had the idea to move my office to <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-studio-tour-and-huge-give-away-from.html" target="_blank">the big space above our garage</a> on the other side of the house and make the old office our playroom.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 16.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/16.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I had been a little worried that toys would end up migrating all over the house with this set up, where the playroom is right by the living spaces, but really, it's been so great. I love both the studio space and this playroom, which we only very recently decided to quickly decorate in time for the Domino shoot. We had been planning on doing Evie's room as the kid's space in the spread, but the playroom ended up being the easier space to photograph in the end, so we threw this room together in about seven crazy days! These yellow curtains were our jumping off point.<br /><a name="more"></a><br />I wanted this room to feel girly and playful, and I thought pretty curtains were a great place to start. We had no time and really no budget to make fancy curtains though, so IKEA came to the rescue. I had actually picked up three packs of these white cotton Ritva panel pairs a couple months before (when the room was still an office) and I just hadn't got around to hanging them yet.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5541.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_5541.jpg" /></div><br />I almost didn't use them because I wanted the walls to be white, and I wanted the curtains to be a fun color to pop off the white. This image kept coming to mind when I was brainstorming colors. I only wish I had the budget to recreate these exactly!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><center></center></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo PaulCostello1.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/PaulCostello1.png" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://paulcostello.net/archive.php" target="_blank">image</a></i></div><br />I figured it wouldn't really be a wasted effort to try and dye the IKEA panels because I wasn't able to return them at that point. So I picked up four bottles of RIT dye - two each of Golden Yellow and Lemon Yellow. It's not for everyone, or for every tub, but I felt comfortable with dying the panels in my bathtub. I tested the dye beforehand and there was no staining on the fiberglass, so I felt good about moving forward using my tub. It made the project and clean up about a million times easier than using a big tupperware tub (and I have a front-loading washing machine, so that wasn't an option).<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5550copy.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_5550copy.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I got three of the panels wet in the shower first (which helps the dye soak up more evenly) while I filled the tub with about six or seven inches of the hottest water I could get out of the tap. I added one bottle of each of the two yellow colors and about half a cup of salt. Once that was all mixed, I put in the three panels and while wearing long gloves, moved the fabric around in the dye bath for a good 20-30 minutes until the color looked bright and even. I turned on the faucet again, to cold this time, and let the dye bath drain and the cold water run on the panels until the water was close to clear. I moved the panels to a laundry basket and took them to the washing machine for a cold water wash on the delicate cycle.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5548.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_5548.jpg" /></div><br />I made a hanging station and let the panels air dry over night. And then I started again with the second batch of three panels and two more bottles of dye.<br /><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5601.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_5601.jpg" /></div></div><br />Then we ironed each panel well before hanging them over white fabric shades from Lowes (which were less than $20 for the 48" size!) and white wooden rings and rods, also from Lowes.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 18.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/18.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I love, love, love how these curtains turned out. Because I had bought the IKEA panels so many months before, it practically felt like a $12 project, where I just had to buy the dye. :) And I think the color combo of the lemon and golden yellow colors really worked out perfectly, which was sort of a lucky break.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 17.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/17.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I think when I have some extra time I'll add a thick or even black out lining to these to add some weight and a clean white backside view from the front of the house (though the white roman shades help a bit with that for now).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 15.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/15.jpg" /></div><br />Have you had any successes with dying big projects like this? Have you used your tub or a tupperware container?

DIY Yellow Curtains for the Playroom

There are only two bedrooms on the main floor of our house, the master bedroom and a large-ish room at the front of the house. For the first...

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Reader DIY: Fireworks Wall Stencil

Hi guys! - Just a quick update for the locals planning to come to the <a href="http://workshops.homedepot.com/workshops/do-it-yourself-workshops?cm_mmc=socialmedia-_-Blogger-_-DIY-_-DIY-Workshops-Registration-Link" target="_blank">Home Depot DIY Workshop</a> tomorrow. I wanted to clarify that we won't be making the <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/07/diy-branch-light.html" target="_blank">lighting DIY</a> I shared last week, although I'd be more than happy to help you find and even make the structure tomorrow at the Tempe store on Baseline. The lighting workshop, which starts at 10:00 am, will be lead by the store's DIY workshop leader and I'll just be there to talk a little bit and mostly just hang out with you all! :) We'll be talking about using different types of lighting and bulbs in your home and sharing tips on how to switch out old lights for more energy-efficient ones. <a href="http://workshops.homedepot.com/workshops/do-it-yourself-workshops?cm_mmc=socialmedia-_-Blogger-_-DIY-_-DIY-Workshops-Registration-Link" target="_blank">Hope you can come</a>!<br /><br />________________<br /><br />I really love getting emails with links to your projects. <a href="http://www.meghanmarymorrow.blogspot.com/2014/06/fireworks-family-room.html" target="_blank">Meghan Morrow</a> sent me this stenciling project she did in her home and I LOVE how it turned out! Her husband is in the Army and they live on base, so they move a lot. She had been dying to use Albert Hadley's Fireworks wallpaper (made by Hinson, distributed by Donghia) in her home for years, but it didn't make any sense for them to invest in that kind of installation.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Hinson-Fireworks-Wallpaper.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/Hinson-Fireworks-Wallpaper.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><a href="http://laybabylay.com/thundercat" target="_blank">image</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img alt=" photo bedding-albert-hadley-fireworks.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/bedding-albert-hadley-fireworks.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">House Beautiful</div><br />Meghan bought a quilting stencil at a craft store and made her own version of the pattern with a sharpie and an X-acto knife!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0265.jpeg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_0265.jpeg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><a name="more"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2407.jpeg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_2407.jpeg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">She mentioned to me it was a little time-consuming, but aren't the results worth it?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo TVRoom.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/TVRoom.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />We've been working on a stenciling project here at my house and I can attest that it can be a little tricky to get crisp lines on every repeat. It seems like the secret though is to not use too much paint and to keep both the stencil and the brush very clean.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo TV_1.jpeg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/TV_1.jpeg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Remember that mirror project above? Meghan <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/01/diy-sunburst-mirrors-using-shims.html" target="_blank">used this tutorial</a> to make her own sunburst mirror. So many great DIYs in one place! I'm obsessed with her green curtains, too.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_6667.jpeg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/DSC_6667.jpeg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Check out <a href="http://www.meghanmarymorrow.blogspot.com/2014/06/fireworks-family-room.html" target="_blank">Meghan's post</a> for all the details!

Reader DIY: Fireworks Wall Stencil

Hi guys! - Just a quick update for the locals planning to come to the Home Depot DIY Workshop tomorrow. I wanted to clarify that we won...

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DIY Branch Light

<center></center>This afternoon we finished the Domino shoot! I'm so excited to share all the projects we did to get the house ready for this spread. We did a few DIY lighting projects and I love how they turned out. And actually, for Phoenix locals, I've partnered with the Home Depot to make this project and to host a DIY lighting workshop on July 12 from 10-11:30am. <a href="http://thd.co/1lsXpcb" target="_blank">You can register for a spot at the TEMPE (Baseline) location here</a>. I hope you can come! I've attended a couple of DIY Workshops before (the one on tile was SO helpful!) and they're always a good time. I'm excited to help lead this one where we'll be talking about lighting trends - it will be super casual and hopefully a lot of fun. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo vIMG_7576.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/vIMG_7576.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />So for this lighting DIY, I desperately needed a new fixture for the upstairs landing. The old one was a big bummer, and after splurging on a new Arteriors chandelier for the entry, I didn't want to spend hardly anything on this light. I remembered posting <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/03/diy-branch-chandelier.html" target="_blank">this idea years</a> ago and it felt like the perfect quick solution for our landing light!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7560.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_7560.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><a name="more"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7554.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_7554.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I picked up 12 socket splitters at Home Depot. They were about a buck each, in the electrical aisle by all the outlet and switches. In the same aisle, you can find a simple porcelain canopy socket for about two dollars.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7521.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_7521.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After taking all the stickers off, I screwed in the sockets and figured out the overall shape I wanted for the light. What I love about this project is you can shape the light however you want. You can make it more organic and branch-like or you can keep it pretty compact like I did. The ceiling on our landing is not super high, so I needed to keep the fixture short. </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><center></center></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7532.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_7532.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I spray painted the canopy and the assembled fixture (which is easier to spray when it's put together) and I used a little painters tape to protect all the electrical parts. After two good coats and drying time, the light was ready to install.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7544.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_7544.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I also ended up buying a ceiling medallion from Home Depot. I like the way it finishes off the fixture and makes it look a little more fancy. I think it's so pretty to mix really traditional things with more modern ones.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7592.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_7592.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">Twelve of the splitters makes a pretty good-sized fixture that produces quite a bit of light. I used I think fourteen 25-watt bulbs. It's so sparkly! :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7566.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_7566.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7577.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_7577.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And I LOVE how it looks with our new wallpaper! Such a quick and cheap project, but I am so happy with how it turned out!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7588.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_7588.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">PS The people at The Home Depot who invited me to host this upcoming DIY workshop sent me <a href="http://bit.ly/1fZYzgg" target="_blank">a link to a lighting contest</a> they did with Instructables.com. The winning project was this pretty <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Reclaimed-Wood-Lamp-with-Himmeli-Shade/" target="_blank">reclaimed wood lamp</a>. That geometric shade is made from straws! Very cool!</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white;"><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;"></span></span><br /><center><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;"></span></span></center><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;"><img alt=" photo F4PZLW6HVQWEYACMEDIUM.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/F4PZLW6HVQWEYACMEDIUM.jpg" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;"></span></span></div></div>

DIY Branch Light

This afternoon we finished the Domino shoot! I'm so excited to share all the projects we did to get the house ready for this spread. We ...

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