What do you do when you want a home that looks straight out of House Beautiful, but your budget is more in line with Target pricing? You get crafty! During a recent sample sale I scored an oversized dome light for just $10 bucks, the issue? It was a hideous shade of aqua! Instead of passing on the deal, I decided to put my art degree to good use and reinvent the lighting. A couple of coats of paint (and a lot of lessons learned) later, it's the crown jewel of our dining room.

My first course of action was to wash the light and shorten the massively long cord to a more reasonable length. To do this, I unscrewed the closure at the crown (where the light connects to the ceiling) and pulled it through to my desired length. I then tightened the screw back up, cut the cord about 6" away from the crown, and used wire strippers to clean off about 1/2" inch of the cord for mounting.

There was a lot of trial and error with this project. I first tried painting the light with gold metallic paint, ignoring everything I know about painting (i.e. prime the surface before painting). It peeled off almost immediately. I then tried using DecoArt's Metallic Lustre Wax Finish first, followed by the gold paint and this stuck much better. The paste hardens really quickly, creating a seal.

It did not however look like a real metallic fixture....Back to the drawing board.

I finally caved and decided to go the spray paint route, using the metallic wax finish as a top coat. This gave it the burnished brass look I was looking for. Finally I cut off the worn out fabric casing on the cord and carefully wrapped it in electrically tape, keeping it the original black.

So, a couple of notes for those wanting to attempt this at home:

1. Prime your surface first
2. Spray paint will give the smoothest, more finished look
3. I highly recommend DecoArt's Metallic Lustre Wax Finish as a sealant. It dries rock hard and looks divine
4. Thin the wax finish with water before applying, a very small amount will do. This will allow the spray paint undercoat to partially show through
5. Polish the finish after it dries. The more you polish, the shinier it will become

I'm very happy with the results and will be on the hunt for more thrifty light purchases in the future. It only gets easier with every project, right? right...? - b. 

Holding true to my motto to do a little bit everyday, I thought I'd share a few of the projects I have going on right now. There seems to be a never ending supply of them, so I've already taken the liberty of calling this Part One as I anticipate many more of these posts. I'm doing everything from hanging artwork, to caulking windowsills, to scraping film off our front window.

Here are a couple of DIY renovation tips I've picked up along the way... 

When caulking (anything), make sure you have a wet cloth and a plate or board to lay the gun down on. Some caulking tubes like to ignore your every desire to control their release and you'll having oozing caulk on every surface if you aren't careful. The wet cloth is to clean up messes that will occur, and the board or plate will catch any excess when you need to lay the gun down.

Spackling is not a fine art and I am confident anyone can do it. One thing I've discovered is that you cannot rush this process. Apply thin coats and let them dry completely before adding the next. This thin application will ensure a smooth finish. Also, always sand and prime them before you paint.

Removing window film or a stubborn sticker is about to get a whole lot easier. Simply spray a mix of soapy water on the surface, and cover with a sheet of plastic (I've been using bubble wrap due to an abundance from moving). Let this sit for 1-2 hours and carefully scrap or peel away. I used a scraper tool. You'll be amazed at how much easier it comes off and you'll have a squeaky clean finish.

Next on my list? More caulking. There a small cracks in all our baseboards and crown moulding that need attending to. Follow me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes peeks at these projects on Instagram Stories. - b.

Who doesn't love the smell of laundry fresh-off-the-line? Its delicate floral scent is like aromatherapy for the soul. Unfortunately air drying is not always an option and until recently I thought capturing that illusive summer scent near impossible. That is until I took matters into my own hands and decided to recreate that line-dried scent using a handful of dried herbs and a household staple- rice. 

Fresh herbs and spices have been used to ward off bugs and freshen linens for centuries. Though we have lots of sprays and soaps to use nowadays, I still enjoy combining a few natural ingredients to organically remove unwelcome smells in dusty drawers or open baskets. Not to mention they're incredibly easy to make, I'll show you...

Supply List (makes 4 sachets)

1 | Dried Lavender- The natural home's workhorse. This dried herb finds its way into almost everything and naturally wards off unwanted pests. Home grown would be even more incredible, maybe next year! 1/4 cup

2 | Dried Chamomile- An herb that smells like sunshine. Its warm floral scent and natural soothing qualities are a personal fav. 1/4 cup

3 | Dried Rosemary- I snuck an extra herb in the mix! I love the earthy quality that rosemary adds and it's also a pest preventer (no moths please). I snipped some from our garden, but you can use some from your spice cupboard. 1/8 cup 

4 | Rice- An type will do, but since we're going all natural perhaps look for an organic bag the next time you're shopping? 1/4 cup

5 | Scrap fabric, Needle & Thread - I quickly whipped up a few sachet bags, but you can buy them too!

The next steps are so easy I almost feel bad calling this a DIY! Simply mix together your dry ingredients and assemble. I found the easiest way to get the mix into the pouch was to do it by hand. Once you've filled the sachet, close the pouch and getting ready for heavenly smelling dresser drawers. It's that easy.

You may notice the scent fading after a couple of weeks- grab the sachet and rub it in your hand for 30 seconds to release more scent, you can do this 2-3 times before you need to remake. The reusable bags make it easy to create a new batch. big kiss, bekuh

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I find this method just as effective as using Febreeze, or other sprays to freshen clothes. It's also a much milder scent, and environmentally friendly!