Accent Wall Before and After

Patti (my youngest sister) is renting but has permission from the landlord to paint…and to be creative about it too. The entryway wall before had peeling paint…

wall-before

I scraped and sanded until we had a smooth finish. Holes and cracks were patched using DAP’s DryDex (spackling that goes on pink, dries white) and sanded.

dap-drydex-spackling

The walls got a coat of primer and a base coat in a neutral light gray color.

Using FrogTape Delicate (the yellow painter’s tape with PaintBlock Technology, safe for freshly painted walls) the next day, I created a chevron/zigzag pattern.

accent-wall-tutorial

Then painted the zigzag stripes alternating a left-over darker gray paint and left-over gray-beige paint (the color under the tape is a lighter gray).

As soon as I were finished painting the second coat (while it was still wet), I removed the FrogTape Delicate.

removing-FrogTape

Next up cleaning the dingy vinyl floor and decorating.

After (paint is still drying):

accent-wall-after

Patti just happens to work part time for a thrift store so she gets first dibs on all of the eclectic treasures (and has a good eye for what can be transformed). Lucky girl! If it was me, I’d never get out the door with a paycheck. I’d be trading those dollars for thrift store goodies!

Even though the wall now sports a busy pattern in 3 colors, the colors are neutral enough to work in some fun colorful accents and patterns. {All accessories found on Polyvore.}

teal, gold & gray

teal-gray-entryway

 coral, black & gray

coral-gray-entryway

emerald & navy

navy-emerald

gray & mustard

gray-mustard

Looking forward to seeing what she does, how about you? Which color(s) do you like?

This is a sponsored post brought to you by FrogTape. The opinions are completely my own based on my own experience.

 FrogTape Blog Squad

It’s a Spring Thing Link Party (and a Spring Terrarium)

While Mother Nature is taking care of bringing green back outdoors, I’m adding a little green to our indoor space. Now, I don’t have much of a green thumb but ever since I scored this beautiful Victorian-style terrarium/miniature greenhouse at an antique shop, I’ve been wanting to create a small fairy garden.

Materials: (with some affiliate links)

spring-terrarium-tutorial

Putting it together: Because my terrarium base is a wooden tray, I kept my plants in individual containers. I started by lining the bottom of my terrarium with foil topped with moss. I potted the small house plants in pretty planters and placed them throughout my terrarium. Since my plants aren’t of the flowering variety, I added spring color with a floral pick from Jo-Ann Fabrics. Pebbles create a winding path. Then ‘decorated’ with my accessories. More terrarium tips here.

spring-fairy-garden-terrarium

Aren’t the fairies sweet?

fairy-garden

It’s not easy photographing glass. 🙁

glass-terrarium

Finally, I got to add the beautiful terrarium top…

Fairy Garden Terrarium

I keep the terrarium in our sitting room where it gets plenty of sun and do remember to water the plants about once a week and a month later – they’re still alive! Maybe I’ll be a gardener yet!

See more of my spring projects on the DIY Project Tutorial page

spring-DIY-projects

It’s no secret around here that I’m suffering from spring fever.

Joining the Easter Crafts & Spring Link Party at HoneyBearLane.

Thanks to Lana from Making a House a Home invited me to join the It’s a Spring Thing series. It’s a Spring Thing!

Join these blog friends for It’s a Spring Thing party! Here’s the schedule:

clay_driftwood_candlesticks by Merry Pad

  • This week: Share your spring projects HERE (below)!
  • March 19th: Lana at Making a House A Home – wonder what it will be?
  • March 26th: Kim at Design Thoughts – can’t wait to see!
  • April 2nd: We’ll each be sharing Spring Favorites/Highlights from our parties.

SpringThing_Final

What are you working on? Share your spring projects (from now until the end of March) in the party below.

Spring-Thing-Party




Easy DIY art at Nalle’s House

Meet: Anu from Nalle’s House.

Nalles-house-blog

Anu is sharing a few links to a two part DIY modern art project she created for her living room today.

Part 1: DIY framed merrimeko art

diy-framed-wrapping-paper-art

Part 2: DIY Number Art

diy-number-art

 

These projects were super simple and the black and white make a big impact in her lovely living rooms…

diy-living-room-art

What’s on display in your living room?

There is a lot more DIY to see over at Nalle’s House. Go ahead, stop by and check out all of her DIY projects and home tour.

nalles-house-collage