Vintage Dollhouse Makeover Part II: Exterior Facelift

Today I’m bringing you Part II of my vintage dollhouse makeover.

You can find the rest of the Vintage Dollhouse Makeover series here: Part I Vintage Dollhouse, Part II Exterior, Part III Boy’s RoomPart IV Girl’s RoomPart V Laundry / BathroomPart VI Living Room, Part VII Kitchen, Part VIII Play Room + Final Reveal

I think that you’re supposed to leave the exterior for the final “big reveal”, but I’m a rule breaker that way. That, and it happened to be the one part I could tackle while I waited for the interior furnishings to appear in the mail.

As I mentioned in my introductory post, I put myself on a budget for this project, so I needed to DIY it as much as possible, using supplies I already had on hand. Still, this portion of the makeover was the most costly, since all the paint used in the house is accounted for in this portion.

Vintage Dollhouse Makeover Part II Exterior | Five Marigolds

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No-Carve Family Halloween Pumpkins

Family Halloween Pumpkins

Do you want some pumpkin decorating ideas that do not require you to carve them up first? I have the best no carve pumpkin decorating ideas the whole family will love! 

At our home, we don’t really “do” spooky Halloween. We have fun, dress-up, and eat lots of sweets on Halloween. So this year, I thought it would be fun to make a pumpkin representing each member of our family that we could bring back out year after year – in addition to carving Jack-O-Lanterns in real pumpkins, of course.

THE BEST NO CARVE PUMPKIN DECORATING IDEAS

Frozen (or cinderella?) no-carve pumpkin

For this pumpkin, you will need:

5 No-Carve Pumpkin Ideas that don't suck! This Cinderella / Frozen pumpkin is super easy to make!

You will want to paint the pumpkin with the aqua matte spray, and allow it to dry.

Then, spray a light coat of the diamond dust spray, and allow it to dry. 

To make it, I used Krylon aqua matte spray paint to painT a white craft pumpkin.

I then layered  Krylon opulent opal glitter spray paint on top.  I was super bummed with this though. It was gorgeous going on, but within moments it stopped working. I figured the glitter was clogging the nozzle and I tried multiple solutions to no avail. What a waste!

Frozen Cinderella Halloween Pumpkin | Five Marigolds

I went back and purchased Krylon glitter blast diamond dust spray paint. It was also beautiful and the can worked much better.

Once completely dry, decorate as desired with self-stick rhinestone gems. Top with a fun princess tiara, if desired.

Hello Kitty no carve pumpkin

For this pumpkin, you will need:

  • Pinter
  • Clear contact paper
  • Black and pink acrylic paint
  • Hair bow

Simply print out a Hello Kitty face on the printer, and place it over the clear contact paper as a stencil. 

Paint the stencil in with the paint and allow it to dry. Add a fun hair bow to complete this look.

Hello Kitty Halloween Pumpkin | Five Marigolds

Minecraft Creeper NO CARVE pumpkin

For this pumpkin you will need:

  • Black craft pumpkin
  • Krylon emerald green spray paint
  • Printer
  • Clear contact paper
  • Black acrylic paint
  • Black craft pumpkin

To make this painted pumpkin, cut out a square in the black craft pumpkin, and paint the inside green with the green spray paint. Print out the Creeper face, and place it over the contact paper to use as a stencil. Place the stencil inside the dry pumpkin and paint on the Creeper face with the black acrylic paint.

Minecraft Creeper Halloween Pumpkin | Five Marigolds

Stud NO CARVE Pumpkin

For my pumpkin, I just picked up this black studded pumpkin from JoAnn’s I just love it!

Black Stud Halloween Pumpkin | Five Marigolds

For my husband, well…

Decorating Family Pumpkins | Five Marigolds

He’s a long-suffering Chicago Bears fan (as am I). Da Bears!

What do you think of our no-carve Family Halloween Pumpkins? Looking for more easy Halloween ideas? Check out my Lazy Mom’s Guide to a Halloween theme dinner.

Lazy Mom's Guide to Spooky Halloween Theme DInner | Five Marigolds

Then, check out my free printable Halloween emoji nail decals here.

What a neat idea! Use tattoo paper to make nail art. Halloween Emoji nails.

 

Sophisticated Nursery Art for $15

Ever since I’d planned my first born daughter’s nursery 7 years ago, I had a vision for adding vintage Barbie prints to the room that they could grow with.

Sophisticated Blush and Gold Baby Nursery with toile accents and Jenny Lind crib | Five Marigolds

My inspiration came from places like Posh Tots, Rosenberry Rooms, and other upscale design stores who were selling the framed prints for upwards of $135 each.

Source www.rosenberryrooms.com

Source www.rosenberryrooms.com

Fast-forward to this year. In the process of moving I realized we had four matted square frames that we’d never used! I think it was one of those things that I thought my husband had returned, and he thought I’d returned. Regardless, it was a sweet score that inspired me to revive this decor idea as we began decorating the kids’ new rooms. This time, I found a way to create this art on the cheap. I scoured Amazon for used vintage print Barbie calendars, and found that there are usually at least two 12×12 calendars available for a reasonable price. I believe I bought mine for around $10.

I spray painted my black frames with Rust-Oleum Metallic spray paint I had on hand (love this stuff), inserted my favorite prints, and voila! Vintage Barbie art for less than $15.

Sophisticated Blush and Gold Baby Nursery with toile accents and Jenny Lind crib | Five Marigolds

 

I love the look of three frames above the crib, but I’m debating adding the fourth and making it a square formation when Belle moves to a big girl bed. What do you think?

As for the rest of the room…

Sophisticated Blush and Gold Baby Nursery | Five Marigolds

It’s needs some love. I have big plans, but I’m taking my time.

Sophisticated Blush and Gold Baby Nursery | Five Marigolds

Sophisticated Nursery in Blush, Champagne and Toile | Five Marigolds

Details:

 

Proverbs 31 Canvas Wall Art for Girl Room

DIY Large Wall Art + verses for the bedroom

When we moved into our new home, we dedicated it with bible verses for each room of the house. I’ve been dreaming of this Proverbs 31 canvas wall art  for Eve’s bedroom for some time now, but when I recently realized I already had the materials, I got moving.

I had a thrift store canvas that I’d previously tried (and failed) to artistically repurpose, so I painted it using a paint sample I already had on hand. Besides the price, the best part of repurposing a canvas is that you get fabulous texture under your new creation.

I used my Silhouette SD to cut the verse onto clear contact paper. I make so many mistakes that I’ve found this to be a cost saving way to use the Silhouette. I used a slightly imperfect font that would give me grace should the painting not go as I hoped.

Proverbs 31 canvas art | Five Marigolds

After spending way too long placing the many pieces of contact paper on the canvas and lining it up just so, I spray painted it with my favorite Rust-Oleum metallic gold spray paint.

I was worried it would get under the contact paper. but as long as I made sure the paper was adhering around the letters I had absolutely no trouble.

To build the frame, I used a similar technique as with Dub’s  big kid room wall gallery, but I used wood that wasn’t quite as deep, since I wanted this particular frame flush with the art.

I used Minwax stain in Early American, which is lighter IRL and gives it the right amount of color and rustic vibe.

Proverbs 31 Canvas Art using clear contact paper and Silhouette SD. Stain is Minwax Early American. | Five Marigolds

I debated (and am still debating) taking a tiny bit of wood stain on a rag and dry rubbing the canvas for a subtle shabby chic look.

I’ve also considered dry rubbing a tiny bit of the white paint over the frame very lightly for the same reason. But, at this point I’m afraid to ruin it!

Proverbs 31 Canvas art | Five Marigolds

I’m so happy with how this Proverbs 31 canvas wall art  turned out. I love the contrast of metallic gold and ivory against the rustic frame, and the sweet reminder my little girl will wake up to each day.

I’m already dreaming of how I might create a variation for Belle’s room 🙂

Additional bible verses that would be great for the girls’ bedrooms include:

God is with her; she will not fail. Psalm 46:5

He fills my life with good things. Psalm 103:5

I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 134:14

He calls me beautiful one. Song of Solomon 2:10

She is far more precious than jewels. Proverbs 31:10

Proverbs 31 Canvas wall Art.. | Five Marigolds

Details:

  • Lamp – Anthropologie (old)
  • Curtains – Simply Shabby Chic
  • Quilt – Handmade by grandma 🙂
  • Paint color – Behr Seed Pearl

Interested in more upcycled DIY Wall art? Check out my other projects here:

DIY Canvas Wall Art for Baby Nursery: I Love You Through and Through | Five Marigolds

I Love You Through & Through Paired Canvases

DIY Engineer Prints for Big Boy Room | FIve Marigolds

Framed Engineer Prints Wall Gallery

Industrial Boy's Bedroom Design. | Five Marigolds

Monogrammed Pallet Art

DIY Chalkboard Art with Rust-Oleum Chalkboard Paint | Five Marigolds

DIY Chalkboard using Garage Sale Frame