Better After

16 In kiddie

Toy Land

I have a little roundup of kid’s toys makeovers to share today! Perfect if you are trying to save money on Christmas this year (and your kids are small enough to not notice or care that their toys are re-loved.) Heck I’d buy everything second-hand just to escape the torturous torture of unfastening new toys out of their boxes. My daughter got a Littlest Pet Shop toy for her birthday last month, and it seriously required pliers, an hour of my time, prayers, and a bandaid afterwards just to pry that thing out.

Here’s an idea manufacturers: just dump the toy in a box and print a picture of it on the outside. Delicate Pringles manage to arrive at the store in such a fashion, surely you can do the same with toys? Problem solved and you’re welcome.

Anyway. Here we go! I love this toybox makeover from Micah. How cool is that overlay he made for the top? See a play-by-blay at Knotty Strings.

I also love to see a good Lil’ Tykes makeover, mostly because what is up with those original colors? All the colors combos in the world and they went with pink, mint, baby blue and beige? Which then fade in the sun to an even awful-er pastel version of themselves? I like Emily’s update much better, it’s like a classy little Victorian cottage.

See more on her blog Emily Ann Interiors.

Need a quick fix for a grubby scooter? Here’s an idea from Heidi at One Creative Mommy. Duct tape! Your kids will have the snazziest scootin’ scooters at school! (Assuming you use the fancy kind, not the plain silver kind. That would be positively unsnazzy).

And what’s a toy round-up without including a Cozy Coupe? This is one of the coolest ones I’ve seen, made by Hemi*Housewife as part of a Halloween costume. She doesn’t say what the costume was, but I’m picturing Aladdin right after he turns into Prince Ali and is parading up to the palace. I mean, right?

Save now on beautiful handcrafted jewelry – Just in time for Christmas!

December 6, 2013 By Lindsey @ Better After

19 In tables/dressers

Texture and tablecloths

Until today there weren’t that many creative uses for tablecloths. Sure, you could cover your table with a tablecloth. I’ve seen curtains and pillows and tree-skirts made with tablecloths. But isn’t that essentially putting fabric where you would expect to find fabric? Ho-to-the-hum. Tablecloths can do more!

How much more? How about covering an entire dresser? Now you are picturing just throwing a tablecloth over a dresser. No. That’s typical tablecloth thinking! What I’m talking about is this:

Oh yeah. That’s an IKEA dresser covered in a Target tablecloth. Let’s get a closer look …

Isn’t it fabulous? Look at all that delicious texture. Visit Kris at Driven by Décor to get the full run-down on how she created this awesome look.

Here’s a few more of my favorite makeovers by Kris while we’re at it! Dining room makeover Front porch makeover

Super cool handcrafted jewelry – Just in time for Christmas!

December 5, 2013 By Lindsey @ Better After

23 In bathroom

Loo with a view

Better After reader Lynn’s master closet had a former life as a small, mold-infested bedroom. Ew, obviously. So when she bought the house, she gutted it, evicted the mold, and happily used it as a closet for many years. Then one day she had an epiphany. Look closely at the before picture and see if you can guess what it was …

Here’s a hint: the lake! She realized that her closet had one of the best views in the house! Well, that wouldn’t do. I bet those slacks and hats didn’t bother appreciating it one day of their lives.

So she decided to turn it into a lovely master bath worthy of such a view. I’d say it even upstages it. Beautiful work Lynn!

Save now on super cool handcrafted jewelry – Just in time for Christmas!

December 5, 2013 By Lindsey @ Better After

17 In office

Capturing Color

Some of the feedback I got yesterday was that many of you missed a few features of my blog before the redesign, mainly the blog roll with links to other blogs, and the ‘like it,’ ‘love it,’ buttons too. I am happy to put them back! I … just need to figure out how to do it. (Switch to WordPress, they said. It is so easy and intuitive, they said. LIES!) Anyway. So I could use your help reminding me of some of your favorite blogs that I used to have on my sidebar, and I’ll try to get that reinstated. Or if you know a great plugin for that, I’m all ears. Yay, feedback!

And now, I present the office makeover of a dear friend of mine, Kristen at Capturing Joy. She’s talented at many things, and has a personality as sweet and colorful as this room. She’s also a photography genius and is constantly sharing her tips and tricks, (although the best thing she ever taught me is how to stand next to people in pictures without looking like I despise them. I don’t! Just respecting your personal space bubble, that’s all).

I love this giant photo feature wall, and that skinny little console too. Be sure to head on over to her blog for a good look at all the fun details she’s got going on in here!

Save now on super cool handcrafted jewelry – Just in time for Christmas!

December 4, 2013 By Lindsey @ Better After

34 In desks/hutches/buffets/ kiddie

Desks, eh?

Holy smokes you guys. Thank you so much for all of your amazing comment love after my little whine fest yesterday. It means so much to me, I really does. I’ve read every single comment, and am trying my best to respond to them all. But just know that I really, truly appreciate it, and you’ve put a big goofy grin on this blogger’s face. Now get over here for an awkwardly long hug!

In other news, here come your daily dose of makeovers, desk style!

This poor little desk. It looks like it was once painted silver, but then the owners quickly tired of their cheap paint job, and instead of humanely sending it off to Goodwill, they made it walk several miles through a gravel pit in the pouring rain, until it eventually ended up in Sandi’s loving arms. That’s my best guess anyway.

Luckily, Sandi was on the lookout for a big-girl’s desk, and knew our little trooper would be the perfect fit. With a fresh new paint job and a reinforced top, she’s ready for a second chance at life! See more from Sandi at I’m A Yarner.

And here’s one for the boys … or girls who prefer blue … or anyone who hails from or is a big fan of Alberta, Canada. Yep, that’s the Alberta flag on this desk, and it looked to me like it was made with some insanely hard process of inlaying precisely cut wood pieces by a wood-working professional who slaved deep into the night over his fancy little saw, but nope. Just stain and tape! Fabulous work from Amanda at New Eyes and Extra Colours.

Great prices on super cool handcrafted jewelry – Just in time for Christmas!

December 4, 2013 By Lindsey @ Better After

214 In tables/dressers

Comment Notification

Sooo, this is awkward to talk about, but I’m just wondering … is anyone out there? It’s been nothing but crickets over in the comments lately. Is anyone there? Does anyone care? A lot of my blogger friends are noticing the same thing. Page views are normal, but comments are down down down. Does nobody leave comments anymore?

I know it’s a busy time of year, but comments are like blood to bloggers, and I need a transfusion! I feel like I’m talking to myself in an empty room, and sooner or later those people end up in straightjackets. Anyway. Just a friendly encouragement to pop in and say “Hi!” once in a while! It really does make a difference. I appreciate all the comments I receive, and I love to hear from my reader friends.

I’m also trying to be more interactive both here and over on my Facebook page, where I love to chat and hear what you have to say. Come on over and hang with me!

Phew. I feel like I just asked the popular girl to prom.

Now that I’ve got that off my chest, let’s take a look at some makeovers that are sure to delight your senses. Deb at Lake Girl Paints has this colorful/beachy technique down cold. Her projects always look like they just magically floated onto shore.

And Natasha transformed this cheapo side table with a colorful selection of decorative trim. Fabulous idea! I’ll bet my bottom you could find scraps like that at any builder supply store for free or close to it.

See more of Natasha’s work on her page Trash and Treasure Creations.