Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

FairyPrincessk

iamsalt--honestly wherever possible (like the hall) I'd pull the carpet up at the corners. You can use masking tape and a plastic shield (it is a sort of plastic blade with a handle that you move along with you as you paint) and do your best with drop cloths but the only sure way is to peel back the carpet at the corners. For the stairs I'd probably put packing tape (the plastic-y kind) down on the carpet and use a knife to push it down between the wall and carpet. Drop cloths can be v. dangerous on stairs so be careful! Good luck!

nursemaggie

You are all brilliant at makeovers I agree with MRS LW they look better than new, which is why I am thinking of doing my pine. Some of it is less than a year old and it is all different colours. It would be nice to coordinate it all.

Can you put details of where to find details of the decorating with materiel FPK. I think it may work in my house. Every room has up to 7 different lincrusta wallpaper but it is all painted either magnolia or white. Suddenly there is a strip of a totally different pattern and even just squares cut out and a different pattern. Where I can I have put a picture up but some it is impossible to disguise without covering a very large area.

I thought it would be nice if I can find some material with poppies on a background of cream to cover either side of the fireplace in the living room. The paper changes either side and I could leave the chimney breast magnolia as I have a large picture of three piglets peering under a fence, on the chimney breast.

Our two sofas are dark brown with lots of scatter cushions of all sizes. Some of them are red and the biggest one have stylised poppies on them but all red. I have a red rug with the poppies on too. I would have to take the pictures in the alcove down but I can move them in here.

I think I could finish it off nicely with some red curtains which just need shortening, they used to be in my bedroom before we moved here.

FairyPrincessk

Sure NurseMaggie--that sounds like it could be lovely. I found instructions at the first link, but then I also found this UK link that says you can use cornflour and it also shows the state the wall is in afterwards (very reassuring as I wouldn't want to forfeit my deposit!)

I've read elsewhere (ages ago) of someone using the same technique to apply shapes to make a border--i.e. I think they cut dolphins out and put them up in a line around hip height. Might be nice with poppies?

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-make-removable-fabric-w-74483

http://www.howaboutorange.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/how-to-wallpaper-using-fabric.html

Bubblesmum

A postscript from my post earlier having caught up the baking messages.

I used the magic baking liner I bought for a Xmas pressie for OH with the cookies- what bliss they glided off, and all I then did was wash it roll and store for further use

fuddle

VJs the top was just sanded back to lighter pine. I put a coat of clear matt varnish on the top and then when I got the husks for the shelf stain I rubbed a few coats on there too. I ever so slightly darkened each time even with the matt varnish (which I suspect isn't very good :rotfl: )

For carpets and skirting I have used masking tape, cellotape, parcel tape, taped cardboard down, rammed sheeting down and always get it everywhere. The last time I did it I bought some frogtape. It's about £5 a roll but much better at stopping paint leaking under and onto the flooring and also prevents paint from sticking masking tape to painted surface.

FPK your dresser is beautiful.

nursemaggie

Thanks FPK it sounds good depends if I have the energy to do this and if I can get DS to help.

As far as painting the furniture is concerned it is getting long enough time for the paint to dry outside as it rains rather a lot here. (Greater Manchester)

What we need to do to make rented property more attractive.

FairyPrincessk

Well, the gym was closed because of flood damage from Friday, so I came home and finished off the weeding instead.

Thanks Fuddle--I've stored away your walnut husks idea for future projects.

NurseMaggie--it does look like a big project. I'm thinking of doing a chimney breast in a room where the fireplace has been plastered over, but it might be awhile before I get around to it. I've debated asking OH to help, but that might require bribes of cake or the like.

On the furniture--I paint it inside. I push existing furniture to the edges of the room, put down plastic drop clothes, and shut the cat out. With water based paint and an open window it is fine. The waxing or any stripping is where the fumes come in but fortunately I've been able to do all of that next to the open back door.

nursemaggie

Don't have anywhere to put the furniture indoors while I paint it. We are very crowded in a two up two down house. We were in a large early Victorian semi before every room was bigger than any room in this house so we have quite big furniture.

Everything is already pushed to the edge of the room nothing is not against a wall. was thinking the contents of my chest of draws will have to go in suitcases where it is now while I paint.

FairyPrincessk

Morning all,

NurseMaggie, we're in a slightly larger Victorian terrace but we started off in a one bed flat with one reception room and 1/2 of a galley kitchen. I worked from home there too, so we really were on top of each other. That flat now costs about as much per month as our house because of where it is.

I couldn't have painted big furniture there although I did manage a couple of small pieces, much to the amusement of my neighbours who could see me through the window as I'd had to loop the curtains up to keep them out of the way. It is tough, making some rented accommodation feel homely, isn't it? Still, some of our friends helped us move and when they come round they say we've made this place nice. One even said he needed to learn from us and do his own rented flat up, and that is a nice feeling.

Plans today include a second hand market in another area of town. It is a short bus journey or a long walk but I've never managed to go on the second-hand day so I decided to just do it today. The landlord is coming to fit some fence panels that he ordered a couple of months ago. It will be VERY nice to have them as it will shield us from view a bit more in the back garden. I'm making tea tonight, I think it will be roast chicken if the chicken has fully defrosted. I got carrots and broccoli on YS last week so will do those. I might pick up a cheap box of stuffing as that will help pad some of it out for sandwiches tomorrow. I might also do rice. OH will think it is strange, but we're out of spuds and I don't want to buy more and when my grandmother makes a chicken dinner she usually does rice and gravy, the traditional American southern side dish (some people do mash instead, it is about half and half what people prefer). So, that will be my making do.

For mending, I have a floral messenger type bag by a woman famous for her floral prints and polka dots. It was a present, but some of the stitching has come loose. It hasn't ripped or anything so I think I can stitch it up by hand. Bit disappointed as I would have expected it to be sturdier than that, but then I do stuff all sorts of things into it when I'm out and about.

vulpix

Happy hunting fp,and lovely colour dresser.

i am having a day off,we are going out n about to look at washers and fridges.The washer sounds like I am washing cutlery in it and the fridge has stopped freezing and is dripping now!

Yesterday I cemented in the rope top edging,dug a large bed over,removed all the roots,dug it over again and met a lady new to the village who is into gardening.That took 8 hours!Must say I am sleeping well.If I hadn't been talking to the lady,I would have put the plants in,maybe tonight.Just a smaller bed to do now,I have some rope top edging which I might use up too.I wish I had a before pic.Hard to imagine the overgrown jungle it was now.

Chilli jam

150g red chillis
2 red peppers
500ml white wine vinegar
1kg sugar

finely chop the chillies (top n tail) and deseeded peppers.
add sugar to vinegar and stir over low heat till sugar dissolves.
add mixture and boil 10-15 mins till setting point.
let cool 1/2 hr then pour into jars.

I made 4 jars with this,it hasn't set solid.Maybe would if you used jam sugar.
I also made up the vinegar with brown and used yellow peppers and 1 green one,still yummy.

Better get a wriggle on,Vx