On Friday son #3 was in an ATV accident. He broke his left femur and his right tibia. Yes, that's right, two broken legs. We feel incredibly blessed that it wasn't worse! He's doing well but he needs his mama for the next few days so I'll be taking a blog break. Hope to see you soon.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Ever Grateful
At this time of Thanksgiving I want you to know that
I am ever grateful for YOU!!!
I am truly honored to be a part of your day.
Thank You!
I am truly honored to be a part of your day.Thank You!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Really Thankful
Things are crazy busy here with family and the holiday but I want you to know that I care about you. I hope you don't mind a little re-post from last year. It's a quick little craft that you can make for Thanksgiving or modify it for Christmas.
I thought it might be fun to make a little sign of the season, a visual reminder of what we need to be thinking. I started with little manilla tags and then added strips of fall colored scrapbook paper to the bottom. 
I wanted an aged look, so I took out my craft stain and rubbed it around the edges. (You professional scrapbookers would have probably used a different product.) 
When I was finished, I didn't really like the look. Luckily, the stain is water based so I gently rubbed a wet towel over the entire tag to even out the stain. Now I had the aged look I was after. You could probably achieve this same look by staining the tags with tea or coffee, if you have it.
(The left side is the "after" look)
I added some self adhesive scrapbook letters. I couldn't find any in black, so I bought some blue ones and spray painted them before taking them off the page. At this point, I could have used ribbon to string all the tags together to make a cute banner, but I had other plans.
I wanted an aged look, so I took out my craft stain and rubbed it around the edges. (You professional scrapbookers would have probably used a different product.) 
When I was finished, I didn't really like the look. Luckily, the stain is water based so I gently rubbed a wet towel over the entire tag to even out the stain. Now I had the aged look I was after. You could probably achieve this same look by staining the tags with tea or coffee, if you have it.(The left side is the "after" look)
I added some self adhesive scrapbook letters. I couldn't find any in black, so I bought some blue ones and spray painted them before taking them off the page. At this point, I could have used ribbon to string all the tags together to make a cute banner, but I had other plans.I cut a piece of 6" wide wood and a piece of trim molding to the length I needed. I painted the wood black and the trim red.
Once dry, I did a second coat of the opposite colors. 
Then I sanded both pieces to reveal the original paint. 
I glued the trim molding onto the wood and then used painters tape to make a straight edge for placing the tags.
I adhered the tags using spray adhesive. For the final touch I nailed furniture tacks into the tag holes.
The finished sign looks like this:
Once dry, I did a second coat of the opposite colors. 
Then I sanded both pieces to reveal the original paint. 
I glued the trim molding onto the wood and then used painters tape to make a straight edge for placing the tags.
I adhered the tags using spray adhesive. For the final touch I nailed furniture tacks into the tag holes. 
Monday, November 23, 2009
Saturday Plans
Last Saturday we drove to a friend's beautiful, newly purchased, cabin in nearby state.
They hired us to build a mantle for the fireplace. 
(photographed with previous owners items) I designed a mantle that would make the fireplace more of a focal point, something that would have a "wow" factor.
We worked from early morning until late evening to get it done. 
It looks a bit odd right now,
but imagine how stunning it will be with a huge black chunky framed mirror hanging in the middle surrounded by over-sized chunky candle holders or urns filled with beautiful red branches.
Friday, November 20, 2009
That's My Girl
You may remember when I showed you my daughter and son-in-law's apartment last spring.
Their bedroom was pretty, but not everything they hoped it would be.
Their bedroom was pretty, but not everything they hoped it would be.That was then.
This is now.
All it took was purchasing a new comforter set
and pretty curtains.
This is now.
All it took was purchasing a new comforter setand pretty curtains.
I advised them to hang the curtains all the way across
behind the bed.
It looks luxurious and disguises the off-set window.
behind the bed.
It looks luxurious and disguises the off-set window.Her good friend found the headboard
at the thrift store for seven dollars.
A few cans of silver spray paint changed the whole appearance.
They also sprayed the lamps and hardware on the nightstands
to match.
All it took was a few simple changes for this room
to go from pretty
to glamorous.
at the thrift store for seven dollars.
A few cans of silver spray paint changed the whole appearance.
They also sprayed the lamps and hardware on the nightstandsto match.
All it took was a few simple changes for this room
to go from pretty
to glamorous.Thursday, November 19, 2009
A Peek
Here's a sneak peek at some of the items I'm working on for
the room with the gorgeous lamps.
the room with the gorgeous lamps.
And yes, I'm working on them in my driveway!
No it's not pretty,
but this time of year it's warmer out in the sun
so that's where I work.
(I know what you're thinking...
you're happy I'm not YOUR neighbor)
No it's not pretty,
but this time of year it's warmer out in the sun
so that's where I work.
(I know what you're thinking...
you're happy I'm not YOUR neighbor)
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
I Tried
Recently I saw these gorgeous lampsat the thrift store.
I tried to talk myself out of buying them.
I told myself that they cost too much.
I reminded myself that I already have an
inventory of lamps that could rival
any lamp isle of a department store.
I pointed out that I was only
searching for shades, not the entire lamp.
I warned myself that if I put those pretty things
in my shopping cart it may become
too difficult to take them out.
And then I realized that along with
all those admonishments,
I was also designing an entire room
around those beautiful lamps.
A room that I've struggled with,
a room that needed those lamps for inspiration,
a room that would no longer feel like a cast off
because now it would contain
these beautiful jewels.
And so I rolled my cart up to the cashier
and purchased them.
I tried to talk myself out of buying them.
I told myself that they cost too much.
I reminded myself that I already have an
inventory of lamps that could rival
any lamp isle of a department store.
I pointed out that I was only
searching for shades, not the entire lamp.
I warned myself that if I put those pretty things
in my shopping cart it may become
too difficult to take them out.
And then I realized that along with
all those admonishments,
I was also designing an entire room
around those beautiful lamps.
A room that I've struggled with,
a room that needed those lamps for inspiration,
a room that would no longer feel like a cast off
because now it would contain
these beautiful jewels.
And so I rolled my cart up to the cashier
and purchased them.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
An Idea to Steal
Are you an idea gatherer like I am? Are you always tearing sheets of ideas from magazines and catalogs, and printing them off the internet?
Do your ideas begin to resemble piles of clutter? Or do you have the time to put those piles into little manilla folders and file them away? And then is the saying true, "Out of sight, out of mind" and you forget all about your gathered ideas?
My daughter's friend Jana shared how she managed to keep her gathered ideas neat and handy.
She buys an inexpensive binder and clear protective sheets. She labels the binder and fills the sheets with all of the ideas and inspiration she's gathered.
In her December folder she includes a gift list so she can remember about the gifts she's bought and stored throughout the year, (an idea I like because I'm always remembering those gifts when it's too late).
She even takes photos of cute gifts she's seen or been given so that she can refer to them for inspiration.
Along with the sheets of inspiration for decorating, she inserts easy and cute gift ideas. 
She includes Christmas stories to read to her children.
And family games to play.
And activities to do.
And the best thing is, it's all contained in a pretty binder so she can easily pull it out each year to be inspired by all of her gathered ideas.
Do your ideas begin to resemble piles of clutter? Or do you have the time to put those piles into little manilla folders and file them away? And then is the saying true, "Out of sight, out of mind" and you forget all about your gathered ideas?My daughter's friend Jana shared how she managed to keep her gathered ideas neat and handy.
She buys an inexpensive binder and clear protective sheets. She labels the binder and fills the sheets with all of the ideas and inspiration she's gathered.
In her December folder she includes a gift list so she can remember about the gifts she's bought and stored throughout the year, (an idea I like because I'm always remembering those gifts when it's too late).
She even takes photos of cute gifts she's seen or been given so that she can refer to them for inspiration.
Along with the sheets of inspiration for decorating, she inserts easy and cute gift ideas. 
She includes Christmas stories to read to her children.
And family games to play.
And activities to do.
And the best thing is, it's all contained in a pretty binder so she can easily pull it out each year to be inspired by all of her gathered ideas.It's an idea worth stealing!
Monday, November 16, 2009
My Friend
Have you met my friend Jen from Sanctuary Art?
We've never met, but I consider her my friend because we have so much in common. We both like to take old furniture, paint it, and personalize it to our home. 
I'm always so inspired by her creativity, 
and her humor.
I'm always so inspired by her creativity, and her humor.
She interviewed me for her blog.
I was so honored that she picked me for her series on Women Who Create.
Please go visit her and while you're there you can read a few tids bits about me.I was so honored that she picked me for her series on Women Who Create.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
A Bit Shady
One of the easiest and cheapest ways to change the look of a room is to change the lamps. You've seen me take an ugly thrift store lamp and give it new life by spray painting it. I've been known to move lamps from room to room just to switch things up. Recently I found this lamp on clearance. It was love at first sight. 
Look at how the simple change of a lamp and accessories gave a fresh look to a tired spot.
An even cheaper way to make a change is by switching out the shades on your existing lamps. I'm always on the look out for shades on clearance and at the thrift store. Recently I was lucky enough to find two shades while thrifting. My lamps that looked like this,
now look like this.
Am I always lucky enough to find two matching shades? 
No. Sometimes it takes months. About nine months ago I found a great shade at the thrift store and used it on a lamp in my kitchen. Then last week I found a second and was sure that it's mate was waiting at home. For two dollars it was worth the risk to see if they matched and fortunately they did!
I love it when small changes can make a big impact.
Look at how the simple change of a lamp and accessories gave a fresh look to a tired spot.
An even cheaper way to make a change is by switching out the shades on your existing lamps. I'm always on the look out for shades on clearance and at the thrift store. Recently I was lucky enough to find two shades while thrifting. My lamps that looked like this,
now look like this.
Am I always lucky enough to find two matching shades? 
No. Sometimes it takes months. About nine months ago I found a great shade at the thrift store and used it on a lamp in my kitchen. Then last week I found a second and was sure that it's mate was waiting at home. For two dollars it was worth the risk to see if they matched and fortunately they did!
I love it when small changes can make a big impact.Wednesday, November 11, 2009
A Little Christmas Craft
How about a little Christmas craft today?
All you need is a dozen clothespins, an embroidery hoop, wide ribbon, scrapbook paper, mod podge and a hot glue gun.
Simply cut the scrapbook paper into strips wide enough to cover the top of the clothespin. Apply the paper to the pin using mod podge. If you'd like, you can sand and distress the edges of the paper.
Hot glue the clothes pins onto the hoop varying the direction.
Tie on the ribbon to hang the hoop.
Now you have a pretty little display for those Christmas cards that will soon be arriving in your mailbox. 
All you need is a dozen clothespins, an embroidery hoop, wide ribbon, scrapbook paper, mod podge and a hot glue gun.
Simply cut the scrapbook paper into strips wide enough to cover the top of the clothespin. Apply the paper to the pin using mod podge. If you'd like, you can sand and distress the edges of the paper.
Hot glue the clothes pins onto the hoop varying the direction.Tie on the ribbon to hang the hoop.
Now you have a pretty little display for those Christmas cards that will soon be arriving in your mailbox. 
Monday, November 9, 2009
Hooray and Display
I am so happy to announce the winners of
the Belvedere Designs giveaway!
The random generator selected:
the Belvedere Designs giveaway!
The random generator selected:
Desiree said...
Oh how I love monograms. PLEASE pick me.
November 2, 2009 3:55 PM
Gift Certificate winner:
Natalie said...
I would love to get the gift certificate! I do love the laundry room quote, but I don't have a real laundry room. Thanks for the chance to win!
November 3, 2009 10:36 AM
Laundry winner:
Andrea said...
I'm lovin' the Laundry sign!
November 3, 2009 7:59 AM
Jordan and Raelene, owners of Belvedere Designs, are some of the most generous people I've met. They've decided to add one more prize for their favorite saying.
Bonus $35 Gift Certificate winner:
Aubree @ The Weathered Cottage said...
wow! i would love to win a gift certificate. I love the saying, "The Laundry Room, Loads and Load of Fun" and also "Let him sleep for when he wakes he will move mountains"- Napoleon for my little boy's room!
November 2, 2009 11:55 AM
The winners can contact Belvedere Designs to claim their prizes.
I'm sure you know that I thrive on constantly changing things in my home. Because I'm afraid to commit to having anything stay on my walls, I came up with this idea for my monogram.
Months ago I showed you a huge frame that I found at the thrift store.I popped out the painting (storing it in the garage), painted the frame and propped it up against the wall.
I enjoyed that look for a few months and then leaned the frame above my sideboard. It eventually was actually hung on the wall.
When my monogram arrived I was so excited to find that it would fit perfectly inside the frame. And I was happy that I hadn't thrown away the original picture!I thought about spray painting the picture but then I remembered that I had a roll of wall paper that I picked up at the thrift store. This wall paper is fantastic! It looks like old tarnished, scratched metal.
I applied the wall paper directly to the painting. The burnishing tool that came with my design was handy for applying the wallpaper and the monogram.
When the paper was dry my hubby helped me line up the monogram.Belvedere Designs websight shows just how to apply their designs.
With a design this big it really helps to have another set of hands. Thanks hubby!
All that was left was to pop the newly covered picture back into frame, adhere it with a little hot glue, and hang it back on the wall. 
I love my new monogram!
I am incredibly impressed with Belvedere Designs products and their customer service! If you haven't already seen all that they have to offer, take some time to visit them now.
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