Martha Stewart Living In

1. Martha Stewart Living In Presented by: Heather Murdoch, Residence Director, IWU Matthew Damschroder, Director of Residential Life, IWU

2. Decoupage anything! • You can decoupage anything with anything (boxes, bottles, shelves, tables, etc.) • If you’re using large pieces of paper, have something to smooth bubbles • If using varied sizes of paper, start with large, work down to small • Add rubber stamps or paint for accents • You can’t mess this up, you can always redo it

3. Decoupage products • Mod Podge Gloss Lustre by Plaid. 16 fl. oz available at Michaels for $5.38 • 1” Polyester sponge brush available at Michaels for $.33 • Kids Crafts Frame available at Michaels for $1.99

4. Upholstering chairs • Choose a fabric that coordinates with your living space. The fabric need not be intended for upholstery. A $3/yd calico will work fine and allow you the flexibility to change your mind frequently. • Remove the seat from the chair, typically by removing several screws. Remove the former covering, keeping foam and backboard for later. • Lay out your fabric and place foam seat side down on top of it placing backboard atop this. Trim fabric to about three excess inches on each side. • Turning fabric under to avoid fraying, pull and staple fabric to center of one side, then its opposite, the adjacent side and its opposite. • Keeping fabric taut, staple your way to the corner. Form a corner by folding the fabric under as if you were wrapping a present. Place several staples at the corner to ensure it is held tightly. • Re-attach seat to chair. Repeat regularly.

5. Fabrics on cabinets and table tops • Uses the same process as the seat cover we just saw. • Choose lightweight fabrics, particularly in a space where cooking will be happening—you don’t want a fabric that is going to pick up smells or collect dust. • Maintain with warm water in case of splatters and Febreeze regularly.

6. Painting and borders • Neutral colors are a good choice • You can always add white to create another shade • Look for fun and/or new painting tools (don’t pay big bucks for them) • Always remember plenty of drop clothes and cleaning clothes • Practice different looks on poster board

7. Tiling and grouting a tabletop • Select and prepare the table. A fresh coat of paint to the legs and sides may be a nice touch. At a minimum, wash the surface to be tiled and allow to dry completely. • Brush thick coat of adhesive on surface and allow to become tacky. • Once tacky, arrange tiles, stones or shards in desired pattern. • Let adhesive dry for 12-24 hours. • Work grout into cracks with grout floater or spreader tool (or credit card) until surface is smooth and level. • After 20-30 minutes, wipe off excess with damp sponge in smooth, flat manner so grout between tiles is not removed. • Allow to fully dry. Polish surface to remove residue.

8. Tiling/Grouting products • Glass marbles (typically found with the fake flowers) available at Michaels for $1.89 per bag • Small wood tray available at Michael’s for $3.99 • Make-it Mosaics Adhesive by Plaid. 4 fl. oz available at Michaels for $2.99 • Mosaic Tile Grout (premium, non-sanded) by Mosaic Mercantile. 16 fl. oz available at Michaels for $12.99

9. Accenting your space with greenery • Pick greenery (or Flowers) that look good together, ie., similar hues, shapes, seasons, etc. • Select things you like • Buy only in your price range • Secure foam • Develop an image in your mind of the shape you like to create • Insert pieces reflecting the desired shape, starting with largest pieces • It’s best to work in odd numbers • Begin to fill in, using pieces of decreasing size, working on the arrangement in a circular motion • Never throw out scraps • NEVER try to ‘fix’ the arrangement once you have placed it somewhere in your home

10. Basic plant selection and care • Financial • Competitive • Progress

11. Swags • Swags can be as simple or as elaborate as your taste dictates • Start with basic greenery (or eucalyptus) • Select ribbon and flowers/ fruit that will go with your base leaves • Secure bow with floral wire ribbon • Secure additional flowers or fruit with floral wire or hot glue • Avoid the desire to place pieces in the swag symmetrically • You can easily add pieces of fabric to your swags without the ability to sew. You need only to know a basic running stitch.

12. Window treatments • You can create darling fabric swags over required university curtains or blinds. • You will need a piece of fabric approximately 30% longer then your window, two small nails, and two rubber bands. • Baste unfinished ends, treat with fray check or use a pinking sheers to cut fabric so that ends do not fray • Place nails in upper corners of window • Use rubberbands to gather fabric at window corners and secure to nails • Gather fabric so it puffs (hiding rubber bands) and drapes in a way you like.

13. Weaved wonders • Buy baskets when on sale • Spray paint can cover a multitude of sins—you can change the color of the basket or just embellish it • Baskets can hold ANYTHING—they’re great for gathering up odd junk or making decorative statements

14. Tips for your budget • Once you decide on a budget, stick to it! It may take a little more creativity, but you should be able to find what you’re looking for in any price range– be patient • Get to know an area craft store. Familiarize yourself with their sale patterns and shop accordingly • Drop into a favorite store regularly– you can find the most amazing little treasures in clearance baskets • When you move into a new space, consider how recycling/ reinventing certain pieces can completely change the look of a room