My Ikea 'Rast' Remake

Description: Remake your plain pine, unfinished, three drawer Ikea 'Rast' dresser into a chic nightstand or end table in just 2 hours and just by adding some paint, wood stain, and new hardware!  

Materials: Ikea 'Rast' Three Drawer Dresser, Fast-Drying Polyurethane, white paint, paint brush, sand paper, wood stain, and new knobs.

Steps:

Step 1 // Materials Ready
Get out your materials. I used materials that my father-in-law already had. Which were semi-gloss white paint, a dark water based wood stain, and fast-drying polyurethane. I also had 2 different sized paint brushes, sand paper, and 2 wood blocks to place your dresser on while painting the bottom. 

Step 2 // Assemble
Put the dresser together. Follow the fairly confusing Ikea instructions. I resulted to my husband doing this part. Put everything together except for the drawer knobs!

Step 3 // Sanding
I sanded for a good 5 minutes on each dresser. Just so there weren't any pieces of wood sticking up. I really wanted to get them smooth.

 Step 4 // Stain and Paint
Stain the outside of the dresser. Apply two coats. I only did two coats so I could still see the wood. While those dry, paint the fronts of the drawers white. Apply two-three coats.

Step 5 // Sand and Polyurethane 
Sand the outside of the dresser again after the stain. This keeps the wood smooth still. Blow off the sand and paint on the polyurethane. Apple three coats of the poly. Allow the poly to dry over night.

Step 6 // New Knobs
Once everything is dry, add on the new knobs. I found mine at Hobby Lobby...originally I bought 10 different ones and had to take a week to narrow down on which ones. I ended up liking the simplest bronze floral ones the best.

Not the best "After" pictures, but they work.

And the total cost...

Ikea 'Rast' Dresser - $35 each 

(I got 2 so $70)

Hobby Lobby Antique Bronze Floral Metal Round Knob - $2.99 each 

(I got 12 at 50% off so $18)

Paint, wood stain, and polyurethane - $0 

(I already had it)

So I paid about $88 for two totally new nightstands, which can usually get quite expensive. So I am happy! Have any questions? I'd love to answer below!

Sweatshirt Remake

A couple weeks ago my sister and I decided to have a sister craft night. For this craft night we remade your everyday sweatshirt into something a little more special.

Sweatshirt #1 - This was my sister's sweatshirt. She added a leopard fabric collar and hearts on the elbows. HOW TO: 1. Cut out the shapes you want to add to your sweatshirt. 2. Pin the shapes onto the sweatshirt where you want them placed. 3. Then sew around the edges of them onto the sweatshirt.

Sweatshirt #2 - This was the sweatshirt I made for Matson. I changed the drawstring and changed the pocket from normal fabric to an old sweater. HOW TO: 1. Place your old sweater or other fabric on top of the sweatshirt's pocket. 2. Trace the sweatshirt's pocket onto the new fabric (or old sweater you're using for the pocket). Make sure to add about a 1/2 inch (at the least) for seam allowance. 3. Pin the new fabric (or old sweater) on top of the sweatshirt's pocket. 4. Sew the sweater just on top of the pocket. Which is a lot easier than taking off the old pocket, plus it makes the pocket stronger. 5. If your fabric is thick (like my old recycled sweater was), you may need a set of extra hands to feed in the sweater as you sew. 6. Remove the sweatshirt's normal drawstring and rethread a rope through the sweatshirt hood.

Sweatshirt #3 - This was my pocket sweatshirt and the simplest to make by far. HOW TO: 1. Find a pocket on a shirt that you like. 2. Trace that pocket shape onto a piece of paper or directly onto your fabric. Make sure to add about 1/4 to 1/2 inch for seam allowance. 3. Cut out your pocket. 4. Pin your pocket onto your sweatshirt wherever you want it placed. 5. Sew the pocket on. Obviously do not sew the top of the pocket so it is a functioning pocket.

Babysitting Party

A couple of weeks ago we watched one of my mom's good friend's kids while her and her husband went out of town. We have watched them multiple times before. The same time we were watching them, we were watching my family's dog, Rookie. The kids love Rook. We all had a blast while their mom and dad were gone. We watched a lot of good movies, went to the Riverwoods Fire+Ice Event, played a ton of video games, went to Provo Beach Resort, and took Rookie on walks!

Missionary Times Two

Matson's little brother got his LDS mission call. We had a little opening of his call party where everyone guessed on a map where he was going. I think I guessed he would go to Guatemala. WAY off because he will be going to New Jersey in July!

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One of my good friends left on her mission a little while ago. Her farewell talk was so her and so good. She couldn't decide if going on a mission was right for her, but I remember when she told me a long time ago and I knew it was so right for her! She is already out (and has been for a month...shows you how behind on blogging I am) and I receive her weekly emails. They are hilarious and she sounds like she is doing so good!

The week before she left, she was over booked with all
her friends wanting some time with her!
So nice of her to spend some time with me on Valentine's Day getting pedicures!

Farewell Day.

The night before she left...excuse my dance class attire.

Insta-Five

If you have instagram then you know what I am talking about when I saw "5 things." I was such a weirdo about that. I loved reading everybody else's 5 things you don't know about me, but after getting tagged multiple times I just didn't want to post my own 5 things for everyone to read. I know...insta-lame. Mostly due to the fact that I had no idea what 5 things I would post. After months of thinking about it and after Nat the Fat Rat, one of my favorite blog chicks that I follow, giving me the idea of posting it on my blog, here are my 5 things about me. Enjoy.

1. I can eat a whole can of black olives in less than a minute without even realizing it...and would easily be open to eating another whole can.

2. I can pick my nose with my tongue...it is not flattering and I don't usually brag about it.

3. The first time I asked Matson why he loved me when we were dating he said it was because I am "funny, fun, and fun to be around." So I guess I am just loads of fun.

4. I have laughed at my own jokes for as long as I can remember and more often than not I am the only one laughing.

5. Every parent teacher conference from kindergarten to high school my teachers told my mom that I talk too much...and if you know me then you know that not much has changed. 

Downhill Backwards

A couple weekends ago we went sledding with some friends of ours. We love sledding and get rather into it. We got all our snow gear on and headed to Rock Canyon bowl, which is THE place to sled. I am talking groups and groups of college/high school kids sledding on whatever they find...cardboard, ice coolers, mattresses, and couches. We were unoriginal and just brought sleds.

Sledding brings out Matson's daredevil side (along with any other physical activity or motorized vehicle). We all had our own sled and went down a few times individually. Matson lost his hat and boot. Then Matson wanted us to all get in a chain and go down backwards. The whole rest of our sledding time we could only go backwards. It made it more exciting, I guess.

Every run ended with us tangled up or pig piled on top of each other and laughing hysterically, which made for a good time. 

We ended our night with hot cocoa and Matson forcing our friends to watch his favorite movie Uncle Buck. If you haven't seen it, you should go rent it uh..I don't think there is any place to do the verb of "renting a movie"...So I mean, buy it or TiVo it.  

Welcoming 2013 {a little late}

New Year's Eve was at my in-laws again this year. We always ring in the new year with them by playing loads of games and eating lots of food! This is one of Matson's favorite traditions.

Personally, I love watching all the celebs in New York perform and chit chat. Does anyone else feel like Jenny McCarthy made a fool of herself this year? And Taylor swift rockin on stage...she definitely isn't a sweet country singer anymore.

2012, you blessed us with opportunities and love. You will always be the year that we hit our 2 year mark of marriage. The year that brought my sister her hubby. The year that Matson left his job to start his company with my brother. You will also be that year that brought us our very first adorable little nephew. Thanks for a good year. See ya later.

Cheers to a New Year!

This is from my sis in law's polaroid camera. I want one!

Baby Stealers

During our break we loved playing with all of our favorite little buddies. I guess you can call us the baby stealers. I will snatch up any baby whose parents will let me! Anytime, anywhere.

Our little nephew showing off his standing skills for us!

Nothing like cuddlin' with a toddler. 

So if you need anyone to steal your baby, we are your people! Seriously.