Cheapy Side Table Project

Did you all have a nice weekend? After an incredibly stressful week of Luke fussing all day and not really sleeping at night, plus a heating pipe that leaked in our office closet and made puddles on the floor (!), I was about at my wits's end. Did I mention that 10 people were supposed to come to my house on Saturday night for a fall party?! Thankfully, God knew what He was doing, and two of the couples backed out last minute. I considered scrapping the whole thing, but I decided as much as I love my little boy, he needed to go to Grandma's house! Can I get a witness?! lol

We ended up having a great time, and it was just the thing my worn-out self needed: to laugh. A lot. Oh, and eat a lot too. :) Of course I forgot to take pictures (I am so bad about that), but we had lots of delicious fall-colored and fall-flavored foods: I made spicy chicken dip, carrots and dip, caramel-snicker-apple salad, and apple cider, and the other couples brought gingersnaps and pumpkin dip, gooey pumpkin cake, and peanut-butter pumpkin bread. Then we played Cranium and it was just healing for my soul to laugh that much, let me tell you!

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Luke has been back to his old smiley and sleepy self lately, which has let me get some stuff done around the house. Since I mentioned a while ago that money was tight, I decided to shop the house again. My end-table in the bedroom was sad and I decided I could fix it!

The table was from Goodwill for $5.99. I bought it last year because I liked the "knobbiness" of it. She got two coats of brown spray paint.

Then I realized I had to do something about that hideous lamp. (In my defense, no one goes in our room but Chris and I, but still, it was horrible.) I've had the base for ages and I have no idea what I was thinking when I put that shade on it!

I didn't have the money or time to drive to JoAnn's, so I used some fabric that I'd originally bought for a Nester-style mistreatment that really just tanked. It was from the remnant pile at Wal-mart before they stopped selling fabric.

I didn't measure or sew. I hot-glue-gunned that fabric and tucked it in. I promise you really can't see it from the front!

I sprayed the lamp the same shade of brown (the only shade I have right now!) and stacked it on top of one of my old favorite books.

Add a "shabby chic" Target tissue box via the flea market, a candle with some coffee beans for filler, hide the alarm clock, and I'm calling it a day.

This is not my life-long dream for my end table, people! But right now, it's prettier for no extra money. It ties in with the dark-framed ferns above the bed and the blue and chocolate pillows on the bed. Someday I'll show you the whole picture, but that would require the piles of unfolded laundry to be moved, wouldn't it?

P.S. Just so I'm not responsible for any deaths :), I will say that the tucked in fabric at the top does come close to the light bulb. I only use the lamp for reading and never leave it on otherwise. Not that you're as ditzy as me, just saying - be careful!

Check out Kimba's blog for much more expensive, creative, and exciting DIY projects than what you see here! :)