Bein’ Crafty September 24, 2011

Of the three Allen sisters, I am not the crafty one.

Staci has her college degree in interior design, and Kristen did many DIY (“do-it-yourself,” for those of you not familiar with this now-popular acronym) projects as wedding decorations for her May ceremony. I do not do DIY–never have enjoyed it.

Till this spring. I made some crafty decorations for a friend’s baby shower in May and pleasantly surprised myself at a) how well the decorations turned out, and b) how much I enjoyed doing it. Then, a month later I visited Goodwill with the fam. I found this ugly, yet promising yellow stool for $1.50. I stared at it. I walked back and forth. I picked it up, then put it back down, contemplating whether the purchase was worth my time and money.

Poor thing. Wasn't it ugly?

I knew myself. I’d have great plans for that grotesque little stool and yet it’d sit in my room for months, just waiting for  me to transform it.

I left the store with the stool (who can pass up such a steal?!) much to Staci’s delight and my mom’s chagrin. She figured it might sit untouched too. I set that yellow eyesore in my apartment after I returned home and began to dream about its potential. For a few weeks it just sat, until I finally worked up the courage to start the transformation.

First, I ripped the trashy, black felt from underneath and sandpapered the bottom. Then, my sis headed to a craft store with me where we found some spray paint and discounted fabric. (Of course, I wasn’t about to choose fabric on my own–my sis is a decor lifesaver/guru.)

Spray paint on, after 4-5 separate occasions (but only one can of paint!). Soon, it was time to upholster so that disgusting yellow could disappear forever. This project was totally a family affair, as my dad stapled the fabric onto the stool. (I had to take advantage of his talented handyman skills!)

And done. I had a ottoman for my comfy, green chair settled in the corner of my room–only $18.50 later. I’m pretty proud of how it turned out and love using it everyday as I read, surf the Internet, or spend time with Jesus.

Beautiful, don't you think?!

Now, let’s see what other DIY projects I can create by perusing Pinterest, my new time-sucker. (Anyone have any ideas for dining room table centerpieces?)

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