DIY Headboard

First I want to apologize for being absent in the blog world.  March-May is my contract season at work and the past two weeks I have been working some major overtime, like 8am-2am drafting contracts and working with my overseas office.  So the pressure is on, and to be honest when I get home I take my hour long break to sit and be mindless...the last thing I want to do is stare at a computer screen.  I decided I would cut back on blogging and only post when I could deliver good quality reads, because I want to give you the best that I can!

Now for the Fun Part...CRAFTING!  This DIY has been requested by several of my IG followers and strangers!  A few weeks ago I posted my gallery wall seen in this post, well it apparently caught the eye of TJ Maxx and I won their weekly contest and now they have shared the post on their Tumbler page!!!!At last glance it was shared/liked  over 4,000 times WOW (for me this is HUGE)!!!  Even though the photo was to showcase my new wall art the headboard has been the show stopper!  So here is my Somewhat easy DIY!  Enjoy!!

Materials:

MDF Board (or any large sheet of wood)

1 1x4 (or any piece of wood to adhere the headboard)

2-4 yards Fabric (will depend on headboard size)

2-4 yards Batting (will depend on size of batting and headboard)

Foam (I used 2 inch but wish I would have used 3-4in for a more tufted look)

Spray adhesive

21 Button Covers, 1 1/2 in (depending on spacing and headboard size)

Staple gun/Staples

scissors

chalk line/ruler

drill

jigsaw

pencil/pen/marker

large needle

string

measuring tape

If you aren't crafty...here is a link to a similar headboard 

Step 1:

Measure your bed and determine the height and width you will need for your headboard.  Since my boyfriends bed didn't have a headboard I measured his ikea bed frame and picked my measurements (62in Wx37in H)   I also measured from the top of where the headboard would be to the base of the bed so I knew what length of 1x4 I would need (2 pieces at 52 in each..I just had them cut my 1x4 in half)

Step 2:

Head to the hardware store and pick out your board and 1x4.  Most stores like Lowes and Home Depot will cut your wood to the desired size for free if you ask (which is what I did)  then you can take it home and get started!

Step 3:

The next step is optional.  I wanted my headboard to have a somewhat scalloped edge to it, so I decided to cut semi-circles out of the corners.  To achieve this look go back to 5th grade geometry and bust out your math skills..lol  I tied string to a pencil to create a compass and traced my circle to my liking.  Once you have one side done cut it out with a jigsaw.  Now that one side is done you can take the piece of wood you just cut off, flip it over and place it on the other side for a template to trace around.  Instantly you have matching notches.  Repeat the cutting step and voila you have a headboard shape (you can also just trace around a bucket or object with a round shape for an easier time!

Step 4:

 Measure your headboard and determine the spacing of where you would want your buttons to go.  You will want to draw out a grid on the wood based on your spacing points.  I don't remember my exact spacing but they are close to 9in apart give or take. If you have a chalk line you can use it to create the lines, or just trace a ruler.  Once you have your grid pattern drill holes where the lines meet.  See picture below for details.

Step 5:

 Lay out your foam onto the board.  Due to the shape of my board I had to cut the pieces to make it fit.  Once I laid them in place I went back and sprayed the adhesive on the wood and stuck the foam to the board holding the foam in place.  Let dry for a few minutes and then you can move on.

 Step 6:

Take your batting and cover the foam.  Once you have it laid out, get a friend to help you flip over the headboard (foam side/batting side facing down).  Pick a starting point and begin to pull it tight stapling the batting to the back.  When you get to the corners you might have to make some small cuts to get the batting to lay smooth.  Make sure that as you staple and pull the batting that you are smoothing out all the creases on the front side.  Continue this process until you finish the entire thing, trimming any excess batting off.

Step 7:

Repeat step 6 but with your fabric.  It is super important that you make sure the fabric is smooth in all areas.  Making small cuts on the back for the corner areas as the fabric tends to picker in those areas.  Staple the fabric in place, and work your way around the entire headboard.  Trim off any excess fabric.

Step 8:

Start covering your button covers with your excess fabric.  My fabric was really thick and sort of difficult to cover these buttons.  I added a little fabric glue to the buttons to make sure they would stay adhered.  

Step 9:

Take your large needle, thread it, and begin from the back side of the head board sewing the buttons in place.  You might need a helper for this.  I leaned mine up against a table and as I sewed the buttons into place had my boyfriend bush the button into the headboard so it would stay in place while I secured it.  That way I got a really tufted look.  I stapled staples to the back and tied the excess string from the buttons so they stayed in place.  Repeat this for all your buttons.

Step 10:

 This is also optional, you can cover the back with your fabric to give it a finished look.  Since my headboard is against a wall I skipped this step.

Step 11:

With a friend line up your headboard to the bed and determine where you want to attach the 1x4's.  I decided that since I am renting an apartment I would attach the headboard directly to the bed so I didn't damage the walls.  I first screwed the 1x4 to the back of the headboard and then attached them to the bed.  Now you are finished!  

I apologize for the bad pics but I made this headboard a few years ago with no intention of creating a blog post about it...So if I ever recreate it I promise to update this tutorial!

Please let me know if you have any questions and I would love to see what you have created!!  Hapy crafting!

Blue Lace

Dress: Eliza J (on Sale)// Jacket: H&M (same style different color)// wedges: Schutz (similar)



Ok, so if you follow me on Instagram you probably saw me post this amazing dress…and some of you might have read that I just cut the tags off…so have I caved yet and gone shopping??? Almost a few times, but I’m still going strong on the NO Shopping challenge. Almost a year ago I tried this dress on and just fell in love with the fit! I instantly felt amazing; the dress just hits the curves in all the right places. I remember it being on the hanger and it just hung there… but the color was so bright I figured I would give it a go (my thought was that if it’s ugly on a hanger maybe it’s great on a person)…my logic was right and I took this baby home for under 50.00 originally almost 200 (thank you Dillard’s for your amazing sales)!
I have been doing the Style Me April challenge this month and this dress fit the bill perfectly for yesterday’s challenge. Since it was a little windy I added this great blazer from H&M and these super summery leopard wedges I got a year ago on clearance from Neiman Marcus!! I still can’t believe I found these 50% off of 50% off!! Sometimes you just find a good steal of a deal that you have to take home.
If you are looking for any outfit inspiration, I highly recommend participating in the stylemeapril challenge ( I think this one is from last year, but it's still fun to do). It is a great group of people that will inspire you and support you! Plus it makes you look at your closet in an entirely different light!! If you would like to join in on the fun, I have linked the style me challenge by Hilary Rushford here! Happy Styling and don’t forget to tag your photos on IG with #stylemeapril and follow me @amelia_blake!



Love Amelia B.

Liebster Award!

Happy Monday!!








I hope that everyone had a great Easter Weekend! Mine was filled with a killer workout class that still has my legs aching, another trip to the farmers market, and a lazy Sunday spent with my love. If that wasn’t enough the oh so lovely Sarah from the blog Life that we share nominated me for the lobster award!

I am obsessed with Sarah’s blog, as someone who isn’t always creative in the kitchen I can’t help but go to her blog for some food inspiration. Her almond joy macaroons have just been added to my to-do list, they look delicious! To be nominated by someone I look to for inspiration completely humbles me, so thank you Sarah for the nomination! I am truly over the moon!!
If you are a little unfamiliar with the Liebster award it is an award that is passed from blogger to blogger. It’s a good way to get to know new bloggers and spread the love…because as we all know networking is key to almost anything! Part of the Liebster award is answering a few questions, so here goes.
Here are the Rules:
1) Thank and link the person that nominated you
2) Answer the 11 questions asked by the person that nominated you
3) Nominate 5-11 blogs with under 200 followers and link them ( Some are close to 200 and I love your blog so I chose you)
4) Create 11 new questions for the people you nominate to answer
5) Notify your nominees via social media

What’s your blog about?
Amelia B. in the Big D. is a lifestyle and fashion blog for the girl on a budget. I started the blog to showcase my style but it quickly evolved from a fashion blog to an all-encompassing blog from what I wore to home DIY’s.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
Well if you were to ask my 5 year old self what I wanted to be you would get 2 answers A.) A Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader and B.) A fashion designer. Growing up in North Texas the Dallas Cowboys were the team to support, and they had the gorgeous cheerleaders in their iconic uniforms. Since I couldn’t be one full time I would have to be a fashion designer on the side… you know part time! To be honest a part of me would still love that, however the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader dream might be a little far fetched for me at this stage in my life! I still dream of designing my own clothing/jewelry line one day. Sewing and making jewelry is a huge hobby of mine.

What is your favorite beauty product?
Oh gosh..this is a hard one. I am a makeup/beauty junkie so to pick one is going to be torture! I would say right now my favorite beauty product is the Becca Ever Matte Shine Proof foundation! I have searched forever to find something I could wear all day without looking like an oil slick by afternoon. This product has been my go to lately and it seriously keeps me about 95% matte all day (even when it’s hot and humid out). I usually just have to touch up my t-zone once with an oil absorbing cloth or a dusting of powder. Since this discovery I have become obsessed with Becca’s whole line. I love that its cruelty free and some products are even vegan!! Their beach tint shimmer soufflé (in watermelon/moonstone) is also up there on my list. It adds the perfect amount of color and a bit of highlighter, and it is super easy to apply (I use my Beauty Blender).

What brand is your favorite pair of jeans?

Hands down Joe’s Jeans. They fit my curvy hips, hold up really well and you can always find them at TJ maxx for 1/2 the price! My close second would be Ann Taylor lofts jeans, their boyfriend jeans are a staple in my closet!!

Tell me about your favorite day in your life?
This is a hard one, but to date my favorite day would have to be Ryan and I’s first real big date. He took me to Fredericksburg for our first Valentines together to go wine tasting. He had planned an entire day of tastings at 9 different winery’s including Pedernales Cellars (because my cat is named Pedernales). On our way down we played a game where we would answer questions to get to know each other. It was really fun, some were serious some were goofy. Once we got to our first stop we headed inside since it was cold and rainy. The wine was great and the company even better. Winery number 3 is where things made a turn. We decided to go on a cellar tour where we walked around the cellar and got to taste the wine straight from the barrel…normally this should have been 3-4 tastings it really ended up being 2-3 glasses… oh and we still had 6 more tastings in the private tasting room at this point. Needless to say driving anywhere was out of the question. So we walked to the lone food truck and ate some crepes and chatted while we sobered up. Unfortunately that is where we had to end, 3/9 winery’s! After that we headed to san Antonio walked around the river walk and had dinner in the tower of the Americas. To this day we still laugh at how drunk we got by 10:30 in the morning, but that we had the best time together and still have a fun story to tell about our first Valentine’s day.

Why did you start blogging?
The biggest reason was to share my outfits and shopping habits. As someone who loves a good sale I get a lot of my designer finds on clearance and tend to be on top of my sale game. I started with Instagram and kept getting comments on where my clothing was from , how I made something, or where did I find it on sale so I decided to start my little blog to showcase my personal thrifty style and obsession with DIYing. Plus it’s a good way to keep my family in the know! Right now I am mainly using my blog as a means to document my NO clothing/shoes/bags/accessories shopping for a year…to keep me honest!

Where is your favorite place in your house?
My bed duh! Just kidding..well kind of, its super cozy. I really love my guest bedroom. It has a great gallery wall, my DIY headboard and is full of color. The light in this room is magical in the afternoon so it’s a fun place to come and sit in when I am trying to get away from the craziness that comes from my 2 cats and Dog.

Coffee or Tea?
Hands down tea! I am not a huge coffee drinker unless it has all kinds of sugar/syrup and is topped with whipped cream from Starbucks. I grew up on tea living in the south so I tend to gravitate towards it, but it has to be un-sweet. Sweet tea to me is a big NO, I am not real big on sugary stuff! 

Tell me about your favorite DIY project!
Another hard one… this is a toss up between two 1.) my DIY headboard or 2.) my DIY rosette skirt. Both of these were firsts for me and I sort of just made up how I did it. My skirt only involved one crying session which is good since the fabric was a nightmare to sew and my headboard that cost under 100.00 was a steal compared to the cost of the one I found at World Market.


Where do you get outfit inspiration?
I tend to get my outfit inspiration from a little bit of everywhere. I really love the Blogs Gal meets glam and Atlantic-Pacific. I don’t own as many high end pieces as these ladies do but I try to incorporate my items that I have that are similar to create timeless outfits. Pinterest is a great place as well, but it tends to make me want to shop so I have been avoiding it lately. Currently though, my style inspiration comes from Hilary Rushford of Dean Street Society style challenges. She puts together prompts that give you a theme for that particular day. So it is easy to go to your closet and pick out something that goes along with that theme and it also breathes new life into your closet.
Now that you know a little about me I am passing on the torch to a few other fellow bloggers to share!

My questions for the nominees:

1.) what is your blog about?
2.) What made you start a blog?
3.) What is your favorite color?
4.) If you could splurge on one thing without any guilt or worry of the cost what would it be?
5.)Morning or Night person?
6.) What is the most listened to song on your playlist?
7.)Name one thing that makes you unique you?
8.)What is your dream job?
9.) What is your favorite day in your life so far?
10.) Where is your favorite place to vacation?
11.) Who is someone you look up to (real or fictional)?


I nominate:
Cassidy- Lupus Combat
Amber-Amber-Oliver in the loop
Vanessa- Vente by Vanessa
Sarah- The Fierce Glamour

Lauren- Pink Native

So Please check out these wonderful ladies and have a fabulous week!!

Love,

Amelia B.

Gallery Wall

I think the DIY pillow and head board tie it all together!

Love this print!  might be one of my favorites and it came in the pack I bought!

It is finally here, the unveiling of my gallery wall!! I have been dying for one since basically pinterest became a thing and have been on the hunt for quality prints that were similar to the ones I see in all my pins on Pinterest and my IG gallery. Luckily when I attended Thrive blog Con a few weeks ago I was able to meet Rongrong an amazingly talented artist who had some of her prints for sale. I really loved the two I picked out the hardest part was narrowing it down to only 2(they were all amazing). If you have a moment totally check her out, I can promise you that you will fall in love with at least one of her prints.
Now that I had two cute pictures and a faux animal head (still not sure what animal this is)from a Marshall's trip I was on the hunt for more. Hobby Lobby really saved me here, they have these super cool gallery wall pads that come ready to go all you need are frames. I fell in love with a few of the prints and for $9.00 (with a 40% off Coupon) this was by far the most cost effective way to complete my wall. Once I determined what I wanted and a layout I headed to Ikea for some budget friendly frames. They didn’t have all the color that I wanted so I ended up spray-painting 2 of them with my leftover gold paint from an earlier project here. 

Ava helping me with placement, she looks thrilled doesn't she?!

I got it all laid out on my floor and determined I still needed something else. After another trip to Michaels and Target I found the missing pieces. My sweet boyfriend took on the task of hanging everything and dealing with my OCD instructions. I really love how it turned out, its bright and uniquely me! I am still on the hunt for more pieces to finish this room, but one project at a time. 

I would love your feedback, what do you think? What places do you get your prints from?



Amelia B.