DIY Furniture Make Over

A dresser into a changing table

I'm dubbing it "Make it-Monday" here at Midwest Girl as a designated day to post all my favorite DIYs. So for the first official 'Make it-Monday' project I'm bringing you an easy up-cycle technique you can use to create the perfect changing table for your baby out of an old dresser or use the idea to make over any of your worn but loved furniture pieces for an updated, fresh look!

We had an old dresser from the 70's I found in a little shop that I took the back mirror off of and painted black to make into a coffee bar which we have used and enjoyed for a few years. As you can see below it was pretty worn and battered from several moves.  

I removed the wheels on the bottom, because as convenient as it was to have a rolling bar, I didn't want baby going anywhere during a diaper change! Depending on the type of finish you have on your furniture you might need to sand everything down to get a clean application that will stay. Remove all drawers or moveable pieces and paint them separately so nothing will stick together. I invested in a white paint that was both paint and primer (great for less coats) and that was wipeable for easy cleaning.  

I gave everything a thick two coats and let dry for a full day. The bottom set of drawers look like they are two but really it's just one deep drawer. I didn't want up to six drawer pulls for one drawer, I thought it was a bit excessive, so I used wood filler to cover the bottom row of holes. Follow the directions and let sit as long as needed. Sand down smooth then paint over and viola, no more holes!

I picked up an array of drawer pulls at Hobby Lobby and Lowes. I wanted it to look shabby chic, so I went with an assortment of crystal, white, pink and turquoise to match the rest of her room. And I decided to get all single drawer pulls instead of any of the traditional 'handle' pulls.

Helpful Hint: Can't find ones you like or that match your room? I bought some plain knobs and pasted on fabric that was used elsewhere in her room with mode podge for an exact match!

And there you have it, an old coffee bar getting a brand new look and a great new purpose!

Happy Make It-Monday!

DIY Baby Mobile

an easy DIY for the nursery!

One of the crazy and fun symptoms of pregnancy is that urgency and the undeniable need to nest. Luckily for myself and moms-to-be everywhere getting the nursery together is one of the best parts of pregnancy. Additionally it allowed me to scratch that DIY itch as well! So here is step-by-step instructions on one of my latest projects.

Here's What You'll Need:

• A small loom or hoop
• scissors
• scrap fabrics in colours of your choice
• a piece of felt in colour of your choice
• glue gun
• ribbon
• extra trinkets you may want to include

Let's Get Started:

1. Start with your loom, hot glue the ribbon to a point, wrap it around on itself to make it extra secure then glue it straight across to the other side to cut the circle in half. Repeat this step again cutting the circle in half again to create a taunt ribbon + where you will be able to hang it from the ceiling later.
   
2. Next cut all your desired fabrics and the felt into circles. These will be made into your flowers. I made all mine the same size about 1.5" circles, but you can make them varied if you wish. You will need one felt circle and 4 fabric circles to make one flower.
3. Put a dot of hot glue in the center of a felt circle. Fold a fabric circle in half and stick on one half of the circle, fold a second piece of fabric in half and do the same to the other side. Press and let dry. 
4. Move the fabric corners out of the way and put another dot of glue close to the center, adding a third folded piece of fabric to it. Repeat on the opposite side. Press and let dry. Your fabric flower is complete, "fluff" to get the full effect. Repeat for as many flowers as you want!
5. Next tie ribbon onto the loom cutting at varying lengths. Hot glue the felt to the bottom of each ribbon so the flower faces outward. (You can also glue a matching flower to the back of this to have a more 3D or full flower effect)
   
6. I glued extra flowers higher up on the same ribbons at varying heights. I wanted mine to have an ombre effect going from white to pink to turquoise so I glue accordingly, but you can mix it up however you want! You can also tie on keys or other trinkets to add to your mobile, just make sure any beads or pearls are very secure because they could pose as a choking hazard if they came lose!

Just tie another ribbon to the cross on top and hang from your baby's nursery ceiling!

Stay tuned for more easy DIY projects

Second Trimester Wrap up!

Baby is the size of a large coconut!

Baby has fully developed taste buds and can not only hear the outside world but can cry! The second trimester was a breeze, it's as I near the last trimester that things are getting a little harder! I think I can kiss my solid sleeping good-bye as I round the corner into the home stretch with my very active little one.

SYMPTOMS: I sailed through my second trimester I had my energy back and I felt great! But in the last week of the second trimester fatigue has hit me hard again, a heavy belly, backaches and extreme rib pain. She moves all the time and I already know she's going to be full of energy! Headaches are back and at night it's impossible to get comfortable and my sleep is very interrupted. I'm finding myself more moody than usual and it's hard to tell if it's from all the unpleasant symptoms or just the increase in hormones. 

CRAVINGS: In the beginning of my second trimester I craved chocolate ice cream. Which before being pregnant I was more of a vanilla girl, but it had to be plain chocolate. No mix ins and vanilla wouldn't cut it, had to be chocolate. Near the end I haven't had any cravings at all.

WEIGHT GAIN: At the end of my 2nd trimester I've gained a total of 30 lbs which sounds like a ridiculous amount but to be honest I don't even care. I know everyone is different during pregnancy and my body is doing what it needs to prepare and support my little one. As long as baby and I are healthy I'll worry about the weight gain after she gets here!

 MATERNITY CLOTHES: I bought maternity shorts and love wearing my Target maternity dresses, I also still fit into a handful of flowy pre-pregnancy tops and dresses. So in combination with t-shirts and leggings I have enough to last me until the end so I'm pleased I spent less than $50 on all my maternity purchases and the dresses I can wear after pregnancy too. 

BABY IS A. . . : A beautiful, itty bitty, baby girl 

BABY IS DUE: Still waiting to see my new Dr. so we only have the due date my previous (and not so great) Dr gave us: October 20th. Although, I wound up being held overnight in the ER last week because I was having irregular contractions and they needed to monitor me for preterm labour. I was released after the contractions stopped and just need to take it easy and keep a watch out for preterm labour signs. Fingers crossed this little active girl holds out at least a little longer!!

BABY NAMES: We've had a boy name and a girl name picked out since the beginning (the girl name before we even knew we were pregnant!) but as it's nearing the end I think our minds have changed and we've settled on a new one :) 

DO STRANGERS NOTICE: Yes! Almost everyone now can tell I'm pregnant, I've had some strangers offer help if it looks like I'm struggling with something which is really nice, but still get the occasional server who offers me the wine menu or offers to 'spike' that lemonade I ordered! 

BABY BUYS: Stocking up on diapers and wipes, preparing for her arrival! Still on the search for the perfect car seat and stroller.

PREPARING FOR BABY: The nursery is almost done! All her clothes are organized, toys and blankets have a place, just a few more small items need to be purchased and a couple finishing decorating touches. I love sitting in her room and can't believe we'll have a new little resident in our back room soon!

2/3 of the way done!!