Tuesday, March 2, 2010

My Kitchen Makeover

So I had an idea. To makeover my kitchen without going to the store. #1, to save money, and #2, to save money. And I did it!
Cutting vinyl with my cricut has always intimidated me. It's expensive and I didn't ever want to screw it up so I have had two rolls of it in my craft closet for over a year. My friend, Tonya, has inspired me. She bought her cricut 2 years after I bought mine and has been creating like crazy. Cutting out vinyl and contact paper and applying it to anything and everything. So I decided to get more adventurous and stop ordering my vinyl lettering online.
I was sick and tired of my barn stars and country look to my kitchen. SICK of it. But that's the hard part with decorating for me. I'll see ideas that I like, but in order to incorporate them into my house I feel like I would have to start over completely and that would mean spending a lot of money on decorations, FINDING decorations that I like, or making them and hoping that they turn out good without wasting supplies and more money... blah blah blah...so I usually just leave everything how it is. I've done a country look in my kitchen for 6 years now. It was time for a change.
So I took everything down and started with an empty kitchen. I LOVED the pears and apples from the Potpourri cricut cartridge and cut out a ton of them, creating a border around the top of the walls.
Then I tackled a valance for my naked window. The blinds are custom and came with a small plastic valance to cover the hardware. It looked nice, but I wanted something out of fabric. Since my goal was to not spend any money, I used velcro to attach the fabric to the window instead of a curtain rod! You can't see them, but there are fabric strips that are strapped over the top of the valance and attached to the back of the plastic valance by using velcro sticky dots. Worked like a charm. I made a valance for our sliding glass door as well.
I already had the fabric from here and here. 1 yard went a LONG WAY! And I used ALL of it, every last scrap. The brown came from a sheet that I bought on clearance for $4. Over 3 yards of nice brown fabric for $4 was a deal. It's been used for many projects.
I rounded up some black frames and made some accessories to hang on the walls using fabric scraps, photos, and card stock.


This menu chalkboard was a lot of fun to make! Another free project. Tutorial will come soon.

It was fun to see how the kitchen's new look unfolded as I gradually worked on each new item. Thanks so much for looking!

More accents with my favorite fabric.



Photobucket

34 comments:

Mama Thompson said...

I'm glad you finally used your cricut to cut vinyl...see? not scary...FUN! Love all the pears and apples!

Scrappy Gifts said...

Wow inspiring that you didn't go to the store to buy anything! It looks fabulous - love the blue color

leelea said...

I recently got a cricut and I have the same phobia!!! You have inspired me!!!! Gonna cut some this weekend! (Maybe) LOL

themasons said...

Yep! I've been needing some new vinyl too, maybe i'll get brave....

Brooke said...

I really like the new look with the pears and apples. So cute and awesome job on not spending any money! That's the best part!

Lisa F said...

Great job! Vinyl is FUN to cut with the cricut! I do it all the time!

The Harris Family said...

wow it looks great. I love the pears and the fabric. maybe I should try vinyl with my cricut.

Kierst said...

I LOVE it! The valance idea is genius. I used the same idea for one of my valances, but I had to do a little more work because I didn't have the plastic valance to work with. I'll just say I used a lot of hot glue and only had to sew one seam. It was the easiest one to do and my favorite!

Shan B. said...

Looks great Brandy!! One day when I have a Cricut & my own place....sigh. The colors are great too!!

OLIVIA said...

You're amazing Brandy! Everything looks great!

Stephanie said...

I tried to comment the other day, but my computer was throwing a fit. I loved seeing your newly decorated kitchen! Although I liked the stars motif also. :) I'm making your chicken with cilantro soup and also the black beans with rice both in the next few days. Totally excited!! :)

Its So Very Cheri said...

You are the winner of one of the give-a-ways. Go check it out and then send the vendor a note with your address.
Cheri

Brooke said...

Good Morning! Your kitchen looks great! I just dropped by to let you know your blog brightens my day! Please visit my blog and grab a award under the awards label. Thanks!

Maryann @ Domestically-Speaking said...

So glad you tried to cut vinyl, because it turned out great! Thanks for sharing at the POPP.

Barbara said...

I just got a cricut and never thought of cutting vinyl. Thanks for the ideas.

Barbara

Heidi@TheCraftMonkey said...

what a great transformation! love the pears!!

Kaysi said...

Wow!! That looks great. I love the turquoise color and the chalkboard menu, how fun!

Kimbo West said...

Love my cricut...once you get going...there's no stopping! I have that same fabric as the fabric framed pears that I just used in my post. You've got good taste!!!!

Katie's Nesting Spot said...

Love all your pear-fict decor, sorry couldn't resist! Great idea for the valance, may have to steal that idea I have one I'd love to cover up.

Bonnie @ House of Grace said...

You have great ideas!!! Your house looks like a magazine!! I found you from Make it for Monday. I am your newest follower!!! I can't wait to see what you do next!
Bonnie
http://creatingahouseofgrace.blogspot.com

Ruth H. said...

This is adorable! I love the pears and apples...reminds me of some fabric I bought to make an apron out of, recently. The kitchen looks great!

Jessica Hills said...

I love those framed pears!

The Persimmon Perch said...

Great job! Thanks for sharing with Made it Monday! Jules

Jen S. said...

I'd love to make a chalkboard menu like yours. Can't wait for the tutorial!

fawnda said...

very cool! I love all the pears! : )

Jenn Miyamoto said...

You did such a great job! And way to go with not spending money!
Jenn

Heather@PixieDust said...

i love the pear and apple shapes on that cartridge and I love the way you used them!!

Its So Very Cheri said...

cool--I want a Cricut.

Thanks for posting to the party.

My favs will be up this evening.

Cheri www.itssoverycheri.com

Have you re-signed up to follow me at the new site. If not you won;t get my updates. Blame Google not me-I don't know why they want to keeo my followers-like what are they going to do with them--REALLY.

Andy Porter said...

What cool ideas! I love the pears! The menu board is a great idea too! Thanks for linking to Creative Cats this week!

jenjen said...

Your kitchen is so cute! I love the colors that you used. And those silhouettes are darling! And the vinyl too!

Thanks so much for linking up to my party! I really appreciate it!

XOOX
Jen

Condo Blues said...

Nice job! I'm impressed that you have a meal plan for the week. We kinda do it a la Iron Chef around here.

Its A Blog Party said...

Wow! It looks great! Love the chalkboard menu!
Thanks for linking up!
~Liz

Hallie said...

You are giving me SO many ideas for my new kitchen! Too bad we haven't moved yet and still have to find a house!! I can't wait to put my cricut to work! lol Thanks for the ideas!

Emily and Jaime at Everyday Art said...

Love those pears!! What a good job you did on the kitchen. :)