Drop Cloth Slip Cover Couch

I would like to kiss whoever invented slip covers! It had to be a busy mom with at least a dozen kids & a dog or two running around the house.
We have the most comfortable couch..I know what you are thinking comfy= ugly. You would be right,it is. or was :)  I don't have any plans to get rid of the couch any time soon, I just keep sewing slip covers when I tire of the other.The latest cover was made from drop cloths purchased from Home Depot (The hubbs thought I had lost my mind but he came around) and FYI I am NO expert seamstress  but I figure that I am the only who would notice any imperfections so I just let it go & get it done. Remember the Nester's mo to "It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful" doesn't that quote just set you free? It  does me.

I experimented with a skirt around the bottom of the couch and I also added cording to the design. I was a little nervous about adding the cording as I had only added it to one other project. (I will share that another day) I love the cording, it is not hard to do & really finishes off the couch. I have to say this was a low budget wonderful transformation. Sorry for the glare, one day I am going to take a photography class & purchase a real camera but I'd rather spend my money on my home. :)

Oh, I made the pillows the fabric was purchased online at Tonic Living  they have the most wonderful fabric styles & it always arrives so fast! The curtain fabric is also from Tonic & I no sewed them myself as well. I will share better photos of them later.

Thanks for joining me today at our hassle free home!

Peek A Boo Bench

The latest project here at the hassle free home was a queen bed frame turned bench. The bed frame was purchased from  a yard sale. It was in good shape and solid oak & a good candidate for the project. I snatched it right up, stuffed it in the mini van and drove home to show the hubs what a wonderful thing I had found.  I don't think he shared my same excitement but none the less he was a trooper and helped with the build.

The next weekend there was a quick trip to Home Depot for a few boards & supplies for the project. My hubby is a professional carpenter by trade (I am spoiled I know) I can usually show him a photo of something similar I like & he can figure out the best way to build.The hubbs had it done in no time at all & then the fun starts for me! Lately I have been curious about chalk paint & I really wanted to try it on a project but the ASC paint is so not in the budget so I took to searching pinterest for a diy chalk paint recipe. The winning recipe was 1 cup latex paint 2 tbs Paris Plaster and 1/2 cup water.
The first layer of paint was a lovely creamy yellow- Sherwin Williams White Raisin mixed with the above chalk recipe. After a few hours of drying time I then painted over the yellow with a custom blue mixed chalk paint. I let this layer dry over night. The next day I could hardly wait to break out the sander to distress the bench enough to see the peek a boo yellow under neath the blue. I was right, it was gorgeous AND the chalk paint distressed so easily, I think I am hooked. I'm sure more projects are going to get this same dose of diy chalk paint. The very final step was to rub some paste wax.
I know you are all waiting on pins and needles to see the final project :) so here it is!

This one is my favorite photo-we got our chihuahua Roxey to pose on the bench with the bribery of cheese!

Don't you love the zebra pillows? I made those for about $5 bucks and minimal sewing because that is how I roll.

I had the hubbs make the seat wider than a normal bench. I wanted to be able to have comfy pillows on the bench & still be able to sit on it without playing musical pillows & move them around.

This bench was going to have a home on our deck BUT it is so cute I can't bare to put it outside in the weather & it is too big to fit in the entry way. Huge bummer for me,however could be good for someone else as I am putting this baby for sale on a local site. www.ksl.com  classifieds. We will see if I get any bites but honestly it won't hurt my feelings if it takes awhile to sell as I love looking at it in our hassle free home.

Because I am a party gal I am linking up to a few fun parties today: www.thriftydecorchick.com *

http://classyclutter.blogspot.com/ *  home stories from AtoZ * Tip Junkie*
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/*  DIY Show Off* Tater Tots & Jello* shabby nest

DIY Pottery Barn Desk with BookCase

I saw this gorgeous solid wood desk on KSL awhile ago. It had so much potential....I had to have it! Plus it was a great deal. Once the deal was done and the desk was delivered I started with paint. Martha StewartsWinters Day. It is a lovely blue grey color. After a coat of paint I added Martha Stewart glaze Black Coffee to the small grooves in the bead board with q-tips to get the right amount of glaze until perfect. I then added new knobs from Hobby Lobby. I had plans to sand down the top and re stain but never got that far. Next I painted a bookcase I had in the girls room to match and moved it into my office. For the final touch I painted and antique window and hung my DIY book page wreath over the window. I work from home and this was a great place to retreat and get some work done. .P.S. I am a painter and NOT a photographer :)

DIY Coffee Table Turned Tufted Ottoman

I recently purchased a large solid wood coffee table from a local ad. I have been envisioning a coffee table turned ottoman in my small living room area. This was NOT an easy project. Tears were shed,fingers bled,marriage was hanging on a thread...well sort of. It was hard :)

Here are the photos..I must say I am proud of myself for this first tufted ottoman.