New Bathroom Part 2 {New Floors}

Okay so the floors are next.

This did take some time, but once I gave in and used my quilting tools it became a little easier.

I decided to get peel and stick tiles just from my local hardware store. They are inexpensive and have a guaranteed life of at least 7 years. As well, if one gets damaged I can replace just that one. The box says for 100sq, but it is actually much less than that if your bathroom or kitchen isn't a perfect square because you have to cut the tile (really easy just an exacto knife and a ruler, score it and then it snaps off) so you can only use two edges because they have to be perfect to line up with the other tile edges. I had about 7 tiles left in the box... and it only cost me $41 cdn for the floor.

Before I did the floor I used TSP to make sure all the grime and crud was off the floor. If you dont do this it won't stick and you will waste a tile, money and the time cutting the tile... so take 30 minutes and do this extra step... You will thank me.

After I used the TSP on the floors and the baseboards I repainted the baseboards and bright crisp white.

Then I started to lay down the floor. I was SUPER lucky that the lino already on the floor had lines so I didn't have to mare the midsection. I just took my first tile and started to lay it down.

It did take me two days... but thats because I became frustrated and didn't want to mess up so I went to bed with a bowl of popcorn and a Greys Anatomy (the one where they sing... SOOOO GOOD... sorry off topic)

I have to admit that the flooring is easy to medium... the CAULKING MADE ME WANT TO HURT SOMEONE!!! I do not like it... I thought I would... but I don't... I don't want to do it again. But I do love love love my new floors.

New Bathroom Part 3 {The Finale}

After painting the new walls a pretty colour which I of course {LOVE} because it looks like Caramel Coffee I needed the finishing touches.

I went with a Europe theme for the pictures, replaced the mirror, dark chocolate mats and a basket for toilet paper and this room was finished.

I started on tuesday afternoon and finished on Friday, I picked hubby up from the airport on Saturday night and suprised him with not one but TWO new bathrooms { I will share next week}... I loved the look on his face... and I love knowing I did it all by myself!!!

This was also on a pretty small budget,here is the break down:
Texture Paint and Suplies: $45
Paint: $30
Flooring & supllies $60
Mirror $39
Two Pictures $50
New Towels $1 {ON SUPER SALE WITH COUPONS)
Extras $25

Total: $250 YAY!!!

Now you know why I was MIA for two weeks... one to do the bathrooms... and the other to recover!

So now I will be away for a few days as I am heading to San Francisco YAY!!! I have never been but am just so excited to go!!!

Have a good weekend!

My New Bathroom

So when we moved into this house last year I had to go in for back surgery so all the little jobs and big ones too had to wait.

Hubby had to go to Toronto for a buisness trip last week and I decided that I was going to suprise him by redoing our downstairs bathroom. There were a few issues with the bathroom:

1. It is really small and also a weird shape. when I say small it is about 40 sq ft....LOL.... TINY!

2. The walls are horrible, they are totally uneven and had holds from the previous owner, and just damaged.

3. There is an UGLY black mirror that I hate but is glued to the wall and if I take it off then there will be even more uneveness....

4. The floors are white lino and stained... I really don't know how you stain a floor in a bathroom.... BUT these are.

I hate HATE hate this bathroom... I never use it, I mean once in one whole year. But as this is suppose to be the bathroom that everyone uses on the main floor I wanted it to be beautiful, open and inviting. And something that when I come down in the moring I don't shutter!
URG.... what to do.




Well, I first the walls, I went to get wall paper but the cost was $400... okay scratch that idea. So my other option was wall texture.... have you ever seen it?
I went out and got Behr wall texture in sand ($40 cdn) and then a straw broom ($3 cdn) and then googled the Grass Cloth technique. Honestly... I LOVE IT. It is So easy and everyone who has seen it loves it. Wall issues are gone, the uneven space behind the mirror GONE! Holes covered up and GONE!!! You need to let it sit for 3+ days before you can paint it... But it looks so so so good once done. {and also looks like a textured wall paper.... but I saved $350 doing it this way!!!}

Come back tomorrow to see what I did to the floors!

GIVEAWAY FABRIC!!!! WINNERS

So have you ever entered a giveaway and went to check on the winners of that giveaway only to find that you didn't win???

Well to the 7 ladies that entered: YOU ALL WIN!!! YUP thats right.... whats the point to go to random.org and pick a winner when really you all are.... so I will just take the fabric and split it 7 ways. {YAY}

I just need your addresses: I will mail them out on Wed March 16th, 2011, so if I do not have your address by that date you will miss out!

Please send your address to katepixleydesign@hotmail.ca!!! CONGRATS Ladies!!! oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY Wendymo!


By the way guys my new wedding line "Morning Doll" debuts today so keep checking in so you can see all the pictures!!!

St. Patty's day arts, crafts and recipes-Rainbow Streamers

Bring the rainbow inside with these fun and colorful streamers. Have a parade, put on some Irish dance music, or just enjoy the bright colors flowing in the breeze.

What you'll need:
1 paper plate
Paper streamers or wide ribbon in rainbow colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple)
Scissors
White craft glue
Piece of ribbon for hanging
How to make it:
Cut a large circle out of the center of the paper plate. You will end up with just the rim of the plate.
Cut 1 streamer or ribbon of each color about 18" long.
Glue each streamer to the bottom half of the circle.
Poke a small hole at the top of the circle and thread a piece of ribbon through it. Tie a loop in the ribbon and hang up the streamers.
Tips:

Use a pencil or pen and pressing firmly on the paper plate, draw the circle to cut out. Pressing down firmly will make a deep indent making it easier to cut out.
If you like, cut the ribbon or streamers twice the length, then drape through the circle and glue at the center. This will give you double the hanging streamers and you can display from either side.
Foam plates are nicer for this craft than paper as they have a smooth outer edge.

GIVEAWAY FABRIC!!!!

So I have been busy, I have moved my studio, set up my website and really taken off with the new lines {YAY}.... well I need to de-clutter... I have purchased SO much fabric and really I have no need for all of it {cough... two bins full... cough} So I will have a few winners... I really want you all to enter... {I really miss the comments}

This is open to US and Canada {sorry everyone eles the shipping will kill me} All you have to do it enter you comment here. {YOU HAVE TO BE A FOLLOWER OF MY BLOG}

I really would love for you to check out my new website and tell me what you think of it... I would love some feedback.

You can also check me out on facebook and twitter for extra entries!!! I am having this Giveaway for my Blogfriends {you}!!!

So free fabric to play with? UM... YEAH!!!

*** Oh let me make this clear, this is not for little strips of fabric... this is for remnants, some as big as 4 yards... so not just my dingy cut offs... but usefull stuff!!!

I will draw the winner Friday March 11th, 2011!!! Tell your friends peeps!

St. Patty's day arts, crafts and recipes- My Little Pot o' Gold

My Little Pot o'Gold
This project developed out of the tradition in some families of setting a Leprechaun Trap... where you decorate a the bottom of a shoebox and set it up on a stick to trap a Leprechaun on St. Patrick's Day. If you catch one, he's supposed to leave you some "gold." We decided to make these little pots for him to put the "gold" into.

What You'll Need:
2 Heavy paper plates
1 - 12 inch black chenille stem
Black paint
Scissors
Paint brush
Stapler
What to Do:
1. Put the two plates together with the eating surfaces facing each other. Cut the top third of the paper plates off and discard.

Cut two little notches in the sides and round one side to make a pot shape. Take a look at the picture if my directions are confusing. (It's a little hard to explain!)

If you're making these in a class, you may want to just create a template and have the kids trace the pot onto each plate and then cut them out.

2. Staple the plates together around the rounded part... don't staple the notches yet.

3. Bend the black chenille slightly to make a handle and staple each end into the notch as you staple the notched edges together.

4. Paint the plates black and let dry completely.

Now each child has their own pot to put their gold into!

You can put gold chocolate coins in the pot to surprise children with. If you're planning on "catching" a Leprechaun, he can buy back his freedom by putting some gold chocolate coins into the pot.