Crafting Occurs

I'm still here.....

2012-02-29T13:16:00.000-08:00

Update:

Still gathering things for my living room transformation.

I found a pair of matching brass lamps at Goodwill, both for under 8 dollars.

whooohooo score!

It seemed simple, sand and paint.

I've seen pictures all over the place of before and afters, surely I can master that....right?

How can it fail?

(Sorry for the fuzzy pics, in moving things around my camera went missing.

So these are those handy cell phone pictures, everyone is raving about.)

I chose an orange color to pop in front of my dark chocolate roman shades and to also bring a touch of the color across the room. It's amazing in my head, sometimes I spend too much time there.

I even rewired them. That was a lot easier than the painting.

What you can't see in these pictures is the drips and splotches.

I tried to paint them outside but the sun made the metal hot in one area and the wind cold in the other.

So the paint dried all funny.

It is not breath taking.

Or amazing.

Trust me I will fake it and hide it so you will not know unless your nose is sticking to it.

Looking at the below picture you are probably thinking,..."how is that going to go in that room?!?!"

Truuuuust me, it's all in good time my dear, allllll in good time.

Not a Moody Blue

2012-02-16T11:08:00.000-08:00

Still sitting......

If confused read previous posts of whining.

I dragged a stool to the wall and pop opened my cans of paint.

I can at least sit and paint, right?

It was NOT a moody blue as I had picked out and hoped for.

It's more of a nursery baby blue. >:/

boooooooooo!

< Insert sigh of defeat here >

Ok, so pack up the paint and wait til I have some spare legs and head back to HD

The lady at the counter was totally awesome and a wizard at remaking the color.

I think she nailed it

top-previous color

middle-nursery baby blue

bottom-moody blue

< now you can insert sigh of relief >

We got back our tax refund I had been waiting for. It was not as much as I had hoped and dissipated quite rapidly. So much so, my head is still spinning.

I was not able to get a fabulous new couch but I did get a fabulous new to me couch :)

I am now playing with the fabric to cover the pillows I have.

I'm thinking the chevron looks pretty awesome.

Rooo agrees.

The other night (a day after the sweet men in the house drag this home, after a 2 hr drive to retrieve it) there was a kinda surprise party for me and it really came in handy.

From a couch that fit 3 to one that had 8 people on it. It was sooooo worth it. I only paid 150 for it.

It's almost the same color as the chairs, which was accidentally awesome.

I can't wait to paint the walls and get everything moved to where it will be best utilized.

Oh I am also moving stuff around on my accent wall. Here is a quick peak.

It's a small tribute to things that reflect my husband.

My favorite part?

That I can just shove the glass shelve between the slats until it's nice and tight and have an instant shelf. Taaaa-daaa

Ok am I wearing out the ta-da's?

mixed media

2012-02-06T22:14:00.000-08:00

So I was inspired a few weeks back.

This was my original idea.

It was inspired by a much loved short movie called "The Red Balloon"

When I was a child they play it in school for us.

Having found the movie again and being just as emotional as I was as a child.

I was reflecting on why.

It was simple, we all want a friend.

One that is big and red and floats around and only comes to you and not everyone just makes it better.

I kinda liked my original piece but wanted to do more, actually do more beyond my ability.

So I cut out the part I did like and decided to do a mix medium.

What I truly wanted to do was draw something like this.

Or paint it with such perfection it alone would make you weep.

Then I came back to reality and decided to do what I can.

Found a piece of wood that I am not really sure what it use to be or where it came from.

Threw some paint on it (blue) and then added layers of different blue to go along the grain.

Then I used some powdered 24kt gold mixed in with some gold paint.

Then I brought in some ModPodge and sealed it up.

put a string on the balloon.

and Ta-Da!!

Stay gold pony-boy!

Now I'm mixing my movies.

Tales of a couch potatoe

2012-01-30T14:26:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm still holding this couch down.

My days have been filled with Pinterest and HGTV which has left me in a funk of feeling useless.

A family member suggested I use this time to sketch all the things I want to do.

I some how fear it will only cause me to spiral down of doing nothing but looking at things I can not do.

It's like telling a kid to write down everything they would like to do at Disneyland and watch shows of people having fun there and all the stuff that can be done and experienced.

Which would be great if Disneyland was promised at the end with an unlimited supply of cash.

That would be awesome too.....Disneyland with an unlimited supply of cash and special cut in front of the line passes. Maybe I can sketch that as well.

But that is not gonna happen here....

So this I did instead.

The cheap fabric I found at Ikea

Plus some old pillows I re-used for the stuffing.

Actually 5 of them.

They were kinda flat but didn't want to throw them away.

Well I finally did it!!!

My sweet girl dragged up my sewing machine.

I would give you blow by blow instructions but then you would end up saying things you might not want to say. And also ripping a bunch of seams.

I even went back to Pinterest in hopes of finding instructions, but ended up on a catalog page.

So I will give you instructions on how it would of worked if I knew what I was doing.

Measure (I hate this part and stick with an eyeball looks good to me method)

Make sure you have enough fabric for 5 pillows.

I removed the fabric from the pillows and just used the stuffing.

Find some ribbon to use to tie it up when done and sew it into the seam.

I folded the fabric in half and sewed up both ends.

I even double stitched it so it would be strong.

Now put it right side out so you have a giant fabric pouch with ribbons sticking out of one end.

Now the tricky part, sewing a straight line.

I folded the fabric and ironed a straight line to follow later.

If I was professional I would have handy gadgets to help and also measure so it would be equal parts.

Place pillow stuffing to one end and sew it in (horizontal line, leave the other open to be able to keep stuffing pillows)

Oh make sure the fabric is right side, as I did not and had to undo all of what I did.

Then just continue stuffing and sewing lines.

Once all pillows had been inserted this is your choice.

I chose easy and just sew up the whole thing by folding fabric and running a straight stitch up long ways. It wasn't pretty but it is functional.

You could be fancy and put in velcro so pillows could be removed and bedroll washed.

I am into easy and functional, but if you aren't I really do applaude you and want to be your friend so I can learn how to be like that too.

Then I rolled it up sleeping bag style and tied it off with ribbon.

Did I tell you to make sure the ribbon is long enough and to fold in half and sew it in like a giant V.

Did I have to?

I had delusions of using multi fabrics that all co-ordinated.

Then I realized I would nee skill for that.

That is why sketching would not help me.

I would sketch beyond my ability thus making me feel even more useless.

At least I got something finished Taaa-Daaaa!

Hopefully I will get the red balloon art finished soon. Just need to find some young legs to do some stuff for me.

But I don't even live in a cabin!!

2012-01-20T13:54:00.000-08:00

If I did then I could truly claim "cabin fever"

I have been sitting here on my cushion being bored.

So I made some baby hats.

Then I got bored of that and then something odd happened.

It snowed!!!!

Yes, I live in the north but we really don't get snow in this area.

My monkey-tail tree was NOT liking it.

The reason the whole sitting on my cushion thing started was this.

No, not the pale skin or chubby legs. The knee, it really doesn't always look like that.

Christmas Eve I stepped out side and stepped on either a slug or decomposing leaf.

My body not know what to do and my feet not listening ended myself in some dysfunctional middle-aged cheerleader split.

I actually got up and was more concerned with the extreme pain of being bent like a wishbone.

A week or so later things were different. I got worse, until I finally went to the doctors.

I had tore the ligament in my knee and it was cushion sitting for a few months.

The crutches I had been using to pretend I was able to do stuff was left as mere cat pokers.

We were covered in a blanket of ice and snow.

Gauuuuuuugh!!!!!

My living room had come to a halt.

I was now cushion to a fat cat!

And then to top that off, the kitten decided to go into heat.

The one really good thing, was no school so I was not alone in my misery!

And they were a big help doing stuff for me, even when I was Miss Grumpy Pants.

Oh, and get this,....they were making a movie, here, in this little town.

They had try outs for extras and guess who got a part??

My son the zombie!!!

Ok, he's not a zombie, he's infected.

The name of the movie is "The Inevitable" and he had a lot of fun chasing people around the streets of our little town. I hope by some odd twist of fate it is huge.

So in my bored, caged up, and no where to go even if I could, mentality.

I started a project.

I remembered I bought this awesome fabric at Ikea for under a dollar a yard.

Then on Pinterest I found this roll-up bed thingy made out of pillows.

I had some old pillows and took the cushion (that's just the word for the day) out and used it for padding.

Now all I have to do is sew it together.

Add some ribbons to one end, so it can be rolled up and tied when not in used

Now to find someone to bring up my sewing machine and clean off the dining room table.

Hmmmmm who can I find.....hmmmm

Hahahhaah poor baby girl has been my legs for the past few weeks.

On a random note, kinda,...is it ever really random when you're a female?

Have you ever seen the movie "The Red Balloon"? no? well click here

When I was a child, they played it in our school and I have loved balloons ever since.

I really do think this short movie is what started America's love affair with everything balloon.

Well I found the movie again on Netflix and laughed and cried again as I did as a child.

Do we all not want a friend that is amazing and will stick with us and defend?

The fact that it's a big, round, red balloon should not change the closeness you feel.

Sigh, ok it should unless it's the balloon from this movie.

Looking closer at the movie, it really does represent a piece of my heart. Even as a child.

So I am making a piece of art to represent the balloon and it's trials.

Unfinished Taaaa-Daaaaa

Don't laugh, it's not finished yet.

Crafting has indeed Occurred

2012-01-12T23:08:00.000-08:00

It has occurred!!
I messed up my knee a week ago, not even sure how. But I have a tendency to yell when it bends.
So here I sit, web surfing and being board. Watching stupid movies.
That is until I convince two lovely young ladies to gather some crafting supplies for me.
They did and I was able to do something useful!
Being useful again TAAA-DAAAAA!

I found these little canvases for 15 cents a piece and the glittered fairies at Wal-Mart for under 5 dollars for a dozen of them. The leaves and flowers I had hanging around in my stuff.

The knobs are from Ikea, 50 cents for six of them.

The pink duck tape is just because I love duck tape. :)

I also believe the duck tape brings a certain reinforcement to the structure that surpasses most.

I made these for my niece and her soon to be born daughter.

She is going for fairies as a decorating style.

I'm also hoping to make and finish a mobile as well.

Ok, so hopefully I have found a solution for my fabric problem.

I figured out why this didn't work,......to country.

This one has the wrong colors.

This one has possibilities but is too close to the wall color.

This one I still love, but refuse to pay more for the fabric than I paid for the chair.

Over 30 dollars a yard is too rich for my blood.

This is my solution!!

At 14 dollars a yard and free shipping, how could I pass this up?

I even like how it's butterflies instead of birds.

I don't like birds, they are really mean.

I sat and watched hummingbirds trying to take each other out in a way that modern warfare hasn't even caught up to yet. Then they saw me watching them and launched a full on attack.

Yeah, I like butterflies better, even if they do taste things with their feet.

Could you imaging that?

Bleh, I think I would learn to fly.

Christmas Party recap and Fabric Dilemmas

2012-01-05T15:51:00.000-08:00

I can honestly say, a good time WAS had by all.

Actually I think I said that last year as well.

Anywhooo

We started, ok I started with a grinch cocktail which is pretty and Delicious.

I'm not sure if I made it up or an old forgotten memory tumbled out. But I will share...Midori, lemon rum, and lemonade and red sugar rimmed with lemon wedge. Sweet and Sour and grinchy green, honestly what more could you want?

Oh, yeah a napkin and not such a full glass.

Well, just like last year I forgot to take a pic before people ate. See, I am consistent.

I am most of all grateful for my son's help. We made amazing food all day long and my daughter was right there cleaning the pots and pans as we went.

Ok, lets see if I remember what I made... mini beef wellington, herb crusted beef tenderloin, sweet potato hash in a panacea cup, crab stuffed mushrooms, caprice salad with avocado, bacon wrapped chestnuts with tangy mixed fruit sauce, avocado deviled eggs, sweet potato soufle', and goat cheese rolled in chopped pistachios and dried pomegranate cranberries. Oh also a Grinch punch for the kids ( lime sherbet and 7-up) and a holiday sangria (blush, cranberry juice, pomegranate juice and oj)

It was all so delicious, even though right before everyone got there we dropped the pan of stuffed mushrooms and no one got to taste them.

No one knew......O.o

They just all had a good time, eating, talking, laughing and having a good time.

I even got to get out of the kitchen and enjoy it as well.

It was easier to make the grinch exlir ahead of time and then just shake with ice for refills.

Everyone enjoyed the decorations and enhanced the celebration. That is really a big thing for up here. I am in the Pacific Northwest and that is not how they roll. Remember we invented Starbucks, where you go sit in public to be alone.

The only thing pulling them into this room is me and they were talking to each other.

It was a Christmas miracle!!! I even had teens there with no skull candy's shoved in their ears!!

They were actually playing and having fun.

Sigh, it really was a great night. We played our white elephant left and right game. It is now our tradition to buy stupid cheap things for the amusement of others.

It was sooo great I wish you all could of come.

I'm hoping next year to open it even bigger.

Ok now on to the dilemma, because where would you be without one?

Bored, that's where.

So this is the fabric I found to make curtains. It was 25 dollars for 6.5 yards.

I like it and when I paint the walls blue it will look even more awesome.

My chairs I found for 27 dollars a piece and the fabric has a lavender hue to it.

But for what I paid I can make slip covers.

I found this fabric online and loved it and still do buuuuuut maybe not for the chairs.

Or maybe for the chairs but beige script fabric for accent pillows.

They do pop!

This is where having money and being able to gather fabric all at once would come in handy.

Ok, after searching I found these possible choices. What do you think?

First fabric choice

Second fabric (a little more than the first)

The one I wish I could afford but can't. Even with 27 dollar chairs

I sure do love it though. (insert sigh of longing here)

This is the table going in between the chairs

and this is the rug that I haven't figured out where it needs to go.

Just in the room.

It soooo fabulous and it was only 29 DOLLARS!!!!

Sorry didn't mean to yell, just couldn't help it. :)

So please leave a comment and an opinion.

Don't make me beg, cause I will and it won't be pretty.

This is my year in Review

2011-12-27T10:26:00.000-08:00

This is actually a new concept for me. I was inspired by a fellow blogger friend (you know who you are). When she put all of her stuff in one blog it really blew me away how awesome she was.

Here go check her out Junkin Junky you will not be disappointed.

So talking to myself, self had a pretty good idea to do something similar.

My is still a little apprehensive.

Ok, look at my attempt first and then click on Mel's link. That way you won't be so disappointed with my lame attempt. I'm not dogging myself, just being honest.

I lack finesse.

So I decided to choose one project from each month and then throw a link out there if you wanna argue with me. I'll let ya :)

January brought craft items for my daughter to organize her stuff, a rewired chandelier made to look French for one of her friends, and tiling my son's bathroom. Jan 2011 stuff

This is what I chose to showcase. (I feel like I should have an envelope)

(Play award music here)

I really did enjoy this project, it came from an old free dated light fixture and it's makeover was exciting.

Next up is February Feb stuff

It was a short month and there were only 3 posts. A little harder to choose, would it be the cake stand, the frame or more organizing objects?

I went with organizing. Plus I got to slip in the previous months object as well.

This is a headband holder and the upper left is matching necklace holder.

I like it because it is an original and the only one I've seen like this.

March is blowing in with lots of ideas and inspiration. March Madness is full of beginnings.

The bedroom inspiration from brown and down to up and green. a trip to Seattle. odd findings which helped to find more things. Winning a rug, installing a fan, and finding one of the most bargaining finds ever. I chose (envelope please)

Flashback Find

The Woodland Trio made a comeback.

April brought many more posts. A frenzy of activity as I finished up my bedroom.

From the giant owl, to quick change mirror and faking reupholstering a wing back. I really loved that chair and I loved the price even more (under 20 for the whole thing) but ultimately I had to pick

The whole shebang! The bedroom was such an amazing transformation.

I still love it and am still blown away with how dark and brown it was before.

May was not to be out done. With my new found excitement of planning things first. I tackled the butt ugly patio cement slab thingy. Which led to many posts but this was my favorite.

It even got featured on Better After. Le Sigh

June was filled with more of May and another trip to Seattle.

A friend gave me some awesome vintage chairs and that is what I chose for June.

So how about a nice round of applause for June

It just feels like summer, doesn't it? Besides I won the sewing battle with this project.

July was just fun, fly hats, finials, flowers and finished projects. It was flipping fabulous!

The patio was FINISHED!

On to August,..... August was not fun. It was short and nothing fun at all. From destroying my back yard, cutting down giant primitive shrubs, and Kiki being injured and a friend of mine being diagnosed with cancer stage 3. I just chose this pic

because no matter what life goes on and I am not in control.

September came and made up for August. It was full of new beginnings and changes.

There were healings (Kiki and my friend) another plan to bring order to chaos and finding things and giving them new life. I chose new life.

I actually gave this to someone who helped a teen friend as a thank you.

October brought much satisfaction with my art center complete. I was able to craft again!!

So much more crafting going on than previous months. I just had to choose the amazing transformation!

You really have to see the before pictures to appreciate the amazingness this picture is.

November came quickly and was filled with preparation for the holidays and a Good Will Hunting find. Which of course won out. I just love a good transformation.

I think I might of amazed myself on this one. It's almost classy.

December really is the one to remember. The grinch theme was so much fun preparing for and the new plan forming in my head for my living room exploded one day, into a wood accent wall.

So hard to choose on this one so I mixed up two. Grinchy decorations on the accent wall.

Well, that was my year in review. Hope you enjoyed the show, don't forget to comment and discuss this new addition. Exits are on the left. Have a great day and a very happy New Year.

Grinch and Whoville Decorating 101

2011-12-21T18:09:00.000-08:00

Lots of pictures on this post.

The first up is the chocolate candy cane hearts that I made for favors for the party.

Melt chocolate

Having people to stir chocolate very helpful

They came out awesome!

I'm pretty sure they are delicious as well, I haven't eaten one yet but I was covered in chocolate.

All of them were a little different.

We made about 2 dz.

The grinch in the middle?

oh, well I couldn't find plates to go with my theme sooo I made them.

Not as hard as it sounds.

Clear plastic plates and printed out images from the web and some paint pens.

Paint the outline on the back of plate and then color in the lines.

I had help with this as well.

I tried to keep it simple and only did 3 images for the larger plates.

The smaller plates were a little different.

I did the outline in sharpie and then acrylic paint and tried to seal it with spray paint.

The spray paint ate the acrylic. I did not realize the nature enemy of acrylic was spray paint.

I will still use them, I will just point out they were caught in a snow storm.

One of the grinches looks quite insane, I will make sure he will not end up in a child's hands.

Nightmare fodder for sure.

I am getting excited for the Christmas Eve Grinch found Christmas Party...

Want a quick look around?

Of course you do, that's why you're here.

First up is the fake mantle with sock garland.

The penguin has no purpose, he kinda snuck in and I didn't have the heart to make him leave.

The sock garland was super easy to make.

Insert "duh" here.

This is my fireplace wall.

Yesss, my wood stove is wearing a tutu.

A better question would be, why isn't yours?

Even my awesome cool/hip wall got dressed up.

But not too much, it is cool after all.

Found the stockings at a thrift store for 29 cents.

Poinsettias found last year for a quarter.

Candy garland, found at a thrift store for under 2 dollars.

Although it was not fully put together.

Also no one knew what it was.

Yay for Pinterest and the wisdom I gained to understand the previous owners intent.

Another look at my uber cool wall.

It's so cool, I may have to loose weight and dye my hair just to fit in.

Up shot of candy garland

Wall of windows rocking the bells and green ribbon

Other side into dining area.

Then back to the tree.

I think after Christmas I will have a grinch bulb give away.

If anyone is interested.....

So thank you for coming with me on my tour of my living room Whooville decor.

I hope you enjoy the holidays and have a Merry Christmas.

I'm back and reflecting

2011-12-19T11:33:00.000-08:00

So I was sitting in my bedroom and was still tickled with how it came out.

I was just really thankful for everything in it and the people who helped me.

The awesome chair given to me in an old post.

The sweet "i love you because" diy art that even my daughter now uses.

So many things in here that make me smile

Those awesome floating shelves I found at a thrift store.

When asked how much they were, they said "those things?...how about free."

Then I found a couple of Easter baskets for 10 cents and spray painted them grey.

Yes, I know, my window treatment is still pretty horrible. Still plotting on that.

The green makes me happy.

Speaking of thankfulness and green.

We decorated our tree last night, very late for most people, I know.

Yet, I am ok with that.

So everyone was pitching in this year.

If you were in the house you were decorating the tree.

Rooo was in charge of guarding the sparkly stuff.

There was much excitement over participating in the festivities.

It was evident on all their faces.

I have a tendency to gather random teens.

Loving my wall even more!!

Ok back to the tree.

Are you ready?!?!?

This is my cartoonish grinchy Christmas tree TAAAA-DAAAAAAA!!!

Having the teens decorate helped in achieving random and bizarre.

It's perfect!!!!

I am excited to finish up the decorating and adding to what they have accomplished.

So much to be grateful for.

I think the reason I don't start on Christmas early is because Christmas never goes away.

It lives in my heart everyday.

Almost Fabulous

2011-12-17T10:57:00.000-08:00

I have achieved almost Fabulous. Kinda, ok, how about better and working on it

This was my fireplace/stove . Yeah not much to look at, mantle too small and the whole thing just way too big. I think the people who put this in were just too lazy to cut the backer board. It's 4x8 and takes up way to much of my living room.

Plus they used thin tile so they broke easily and I'm gonna assume dropping wood on it did not help the state it got to.

So I said to myself, "self how can this be fixed?"

Glass mosaic tile!

I looked around for quite a while trying to find something affordable.

I finally found this tile at cooltiles.com. It was only 2.34 a square foot and shipping was extremely affordable. I also got some dark grey/black for a border.

I also decided to reduce the size and increase the mantle.

I love the before and after the grout :)

See how shiny it is!!! Shiiiiiiny

So I still need to cut the backer board and tile the border but this thing called Christmas is upon us sooo I have to put on hold until after.

Leaving it in this state would not go well with the Grinch theme party that is coming up.

I dug out a few things and used other things to give the illusion of a mantle and completion.

Do you like how I used a couple old tiles for the top of the stove?

Giant stockings help to hide future columns for chunky mantle.

I will post more but not for a while since I will be busy getting ready for all the festivities.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Going against the grain.

2011-12-10T12:43:00.000-08:00

Do you remember me complaining about my living room wall awhile back?

No? Well, I was and I was right.

Look below and join me in the blah moment.

Here is an even bigger picture of the mishmash of objects that have no relationship to each other. Other than being in the same room. There is no reason and I can't even come up with a rhyme.

The color wasn't working, it looks yellow sometimes and then others it looks beige and sometime even green. It is quite moody.

My curtains are too short and my rug is almost as old as I am.

I have plans of making it soooo much better you won't recognize it.

I have the paint already and will be painting soon.

I also have in my head the way it needs to be laid out but I can't do that until taxes come back.

I also wanted an accent wall and that I can work on right now!!!

Below is some fencing boards I've had for years because they were suppose to turn into a fence.

They didn't.

So we smoothed them down and whitewashed them in 4 different colors, chocolate brown, grey blue, dark grey, and a tangerine. Then put them up on the wall.

They look amazing!!!!

I am going to put one more set up but haven't gotten to it.

The boards will pop off the wall when I get it painted.

I suppose I should of painted the wall first but was too impatient to wait.

I can't wait to be able to really make this wall awesome.

I'm going to keep the pics and maybe the guitar but will be do something else with the art and so on.

The wooden people use to live on the mantle, but that has been removed.

I find them periodically in different places.

So this is the beginning of my soon to be fabu living room.

So the cost for my amazing hip and cool wall is about 3 dollars for the nails.

So this is a WHOOOOOO to the HOOOOOO

TAAAAAA-DAAAA!!!

I almost like my couch.

I said almost.

Ah Hoo Horaay Welcome Christmas, Christmas time

2011-12-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

Wait...What?!? How does tomato cages go with Christmas?

It's simple my dear, Christmas time is near.

The picture down below is really what I would have if I had the financial flow.

It's awesome, it's amazing

It's Whooville in icing

But all of that is way beyond my budget, which is why I dug up my tomato cage.

So clean it off, flip it over and manipulate it until it looks like a Whoville tree.

Wrap around some bright green garland.

Stick a big ole star on top

Stand back look at it, make faces and move it around.

Then have a dawning thought about previous project.

Go find project and add the Christmas sign.

Realize they were made to go together and put outside.

Ignore spider webs, as they need Christmas too .

Yes there, ya go, now it's looking like a Grinchy Christmas.

So, one free used tomato cage and 3 things of garland. If I was smart I would of bought the garland last year when it went on sale.

So not a big money saver but still under 20 dollars.......

Whovillian TAAAA-DAAAA!!!

Starsky and HUTCH and other 70's things

2011-11-29T16:07:00.000-08:00

So do you remember this thing? I can almost hear the slap bass when looking at it.

Don't worry it's not a high dollar one, it's mostly particle board and plastic molding.

Got your gold swirlies in the glass and more intricate plastic on the bottom.

Not to mention this obnoxiously large and heavy piece of particle board and plastic on top.

I will tell you it took quite a while to unscrew the fifty million screws holding that baby on.

I will tell you it was worth it!! After painting for a week and then trying to smash the glass without putting my eye out. For some reason it wouldn't break, even when I smacked it with a hammer.

I really, really want to start on my living room but I have this vow about not starting something until I finished the other. So here is my greatly improved hutch (minus Starsky, sadly, I had a crush on him when I was little)

Now, I can just crush on this,

Off the HOOK TAAAAAAA-DAAAAAAAA!!!!

Big ole difference eh?

I am not completely done, I still have to put the handles on and build a "X" wine rack for the middle shelf. Where I have the wine now.

I spray painted the handles grey. I wanted to find some other handles that were more modern, but after searching I can not find the same size of the ones it came with....boo

Found this amazing fabric at Fabri Guru, so love that site!!

Fabric I can afford, with reasonable shipping and great patterns.

Think I paid about 4 dollars a yd for this.

Ok so my staging is lacking, pizazz,.....and elegance,....taste, whatever. It's what I had on hand and wanted to get this posted. I will do another pic when I am able to do fabulous.

So let's add this up, shall we?

Thirty-something for the hutch and ten bucks for the fabric. I already had everything else!

Under 50 dollar hutch, can I get a whoot, whoot?

You're a mean one Mr. Grinch

2011-11-22T11:06:00.000-08:00

You really are a heeeeeel....but are you a wreath?

Oh but you will be :)

Dollar Tree to the rescue! Spray paint with green and I wanted to do moldy purple spots but I only had blue. Blue can be moldy, right?

Then gather up a bunch of ribbon and tulle and anything else you can think of to stick on there.

I went with red and green with a little blue.

Now cut some strips and knot that bad boy on there.

Make them different length and just have fun.

I still had paper left over from the "pills" so I cut out circles and glued them on in random places. Mostly "moldy purple spots" kept playing in my brain.

Then to bring the star of the wreath out, thanks to Goodwill treasure hunting.

Now we have a totally grinchy wreath.

He doesn't seem like the mean one, does he?

I did have to give him a butt lift because he was pooching out my wreath.

I am still thinking of what to put in his hands, maybe a fork, or ornament, or candy cane, or sign.

So many possibilities,......hmmmm maybe a frame with a heart in it.

Why do I always end these post with a question?

Are you reeling in the years,...throwing away the limes....dadada da dee

2011-11-14T09:43:00.000-08:00

I can hear the song in my head but I think I might be wrong with the lyrics. I do like it though.

Look at what I found at Goodwill for 30 something!!!!!!

Why are you giving me that look? (Looks back and dawning awareness creeps onto face)

Oh, you think I'm gonna keep it that way?

Have you met me?

Yes, it goes well with my floor, because my floor is still 70's ugly.

I am soooo hoping that a big wad of cash would drop on my lap so I can redo my kitchen.

I will definitely blog when that happens. It will be all in caps.

I did have hesitation when looking at this. Can I pull this off?

Can I fit it in my van?

Why am I here and have I gone a little insane?

Maybe, and I'm here because I woke up and tore apart my dinning room! After the printing issue and realizing I only have a desk to hold my printers that don't work. Turned into a frenzy of ridding myself of redundant things. Like a desk only used to hold useless printers. Sorry, repeating myself, I tend to do that when I am amazed at my stupidity.

Ok on to more of this thing.

This is the top, which is a good thing cause if it was the bottom it would fall over.

Another reason I decided on a hutch, is my kitchen is very small. I only have one cabinet for my dishes and glasses and mugs. Serving dishes and so on are downstairs in the laundry room. Some I haven't been able to reach for years. I thought I might like to use them.

My husband was staring at it and asked "you are going to paint that, right?"

This is amazing, as he has overcome his fear of painting wood! I'm so proud :)

So since I got rid of my desk I had to move the orange thingy I made.

I like it over here, and the penguin just seals the deal.

So whatcha think?

Anyone got any suggestions?

I'm gonna paint the hutch white (can't believe I'm doing that, white is hard!)

I'm also going to paint my walls a grey blue.

It looks great in my head, I know once I do that I will hate my couch. Sigh, where does it end?????

They have a pill for that now....

2011-11-09T17:13:00.000-08:00

They really do, whether it works or not or causes even more problems they still do. Some are even worse than the original problem. Actually my family has a long running bet on how fast the same pill they hock on tv will be the newest thing the lawyers are advertising on tv for a major action suit.

But these pills are guaranteed not to do all that not fun stuff.

They are just overflowing with cuteness.

Isn't it just awesome?!?!?

This is her link grinch pills and she's nice enough to let you use her template.

So what is stopping me? I am doing a Grinch found Christmas theme. Well I bought the tic-tacs (green apple because that sounds sweet and sour) and got to playing with it. I did not use the template and when I got around to printing out the top poem. Not only did one my printers not work but the working printer made the grinch brown.

But it was too big for what I already did.

I wish I would learn to read instructions before I do something.

So anyway this is my spin on it.

I used some different color craft paper.

Had to cut the poem in half and put it on both sides.

Added a fun ribbon and mod podged it on there.

Put a funky kinda star thing on front to bring back the reason for Christmas.

Some big hearts on the top

Oh yeah, the reason the Grinch's are green? I hand painted each printed Grinch and went back over his face with a very thin marker. Yeah, not a quick craft my way, at all and I don't recommend it.

They still work and I WILL hand them out. I will not hoard them.

I will not think about it or how long it took to make. I will refrain from their cuteness.

I will give them out to encourage people and not hand them to people who are grouchy

I will :)

Crayola out of the box

2011-11-04T21:12:00.000-07:00

Alas Pinterest, I have become such a copycat, all in thanks to you.

So many ideas, so many things I want to do. Now that I have time I find myself creating things for people I haven't met yet.

Ok sooooo the melted crayon art is soooo cool. I love it! Then when I was re-organizing my craft room I found multi packs of crayons. You just know what is coming next!

Although I did my spin on it. By adding duck tape (of course) on the sides and a cute bird house on the bottom.

This is where I really wish I had a heat gun.

Melting the crayons with a blow dryer made it all blown looky.

I still feel like I need to add something to it. Flowers? Raindrops? Fog...

I just really don't know but I thought I'd throw it out there and be open for suggestions.

Anyone?

The cost was FREE, just the stuff I had around.

Ok, I finally put my big girl panties on and just went and did something. It's been sitting down there unfinished for weeks. I have made a pledge (to myself, didn't want to drag someone into this, they may hold me to my word) to finish what I started before I start something else.

So getting off my butt and doing it TAADAAAAA!!!!

I went back over it with more crayon but this time it was through my cheap dollar store hot glue gun.

It really smoothed it out and I was able to be more precise with my melting. I also added cut out flower splotches thingies. It brought a lightness and drifting to it, that I was hoping for.

You know what the best part of finishing this up is? Being done is good, freeing up more room is better but the best is I got to spend time with my daughter the whole time. She was finishing up a painting too.

Look to the left, isn't it cute? She has so much more talent than I had at that age.

All in all it was a good Saturday. :)

Grinchy Goodness

2011-10-26T17:48:00.000-07:00

It's getting around that time again. You know the most wonderful time of the year?

I am planning on doing a "Grinch found Christmas" theme.

Since I have many ideas I am starting now. Right now, this very minute, as we speak.

I painted these light bulbs green. They were burned out and I have been replacing them with energy efficient ones. Then I put them in a box and forgot about them.

See the trend? So now that I can find my stuff, I found them again.

So now they are painted a grinchy green I pulled out my paint pens and had at it.

One grinchy bulb

Ten grinchy bulbs!

Ok, now to dig out my felt and whip up a simple hat.

Tada...but he just looks like a troll. On to pom-pom pillaging.

But first more pictures!

I'd watch out for the one in the middle, he's up to something.

There, a little pom-pom and some fur lining and BAM!! Grinchy Goodness!!!

Now all they need is a hook and a tree.

What's a "T" reef?

2011-10-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I was on Pinterest and saw this amazing idea. When I clicked on it for details I ended up on a rabbit trail. Click after click and still no directions and then finally I had success!!

Yet they were far more organized than I want to be or am capable of.

After cleaning out my craft room I had realized I have been keeping the pizza cardboard. Why? I have no earthly idea. Then it clicked! Round, wreaths are round and a friend of mine loves tea.

Eureka!!!! Craft inspiration coming into view.

So I glued two of the boards together to strengthen. I used wood glue because wood glue is awesome on cardboard.

While that is drying I found some paper that went well together.

Also in colors I know she would like.

Plus it's got a "fally" feel to it.

The third pizza round is cut out like a wreath.

Oh you will need some clothes pins but they are sooo cheap.

I used wood glue on the clothes pins as well.

Wood glue dries pretty quick and really makes a tight bond.

So this is the wreath after I covered it in paper.

Make small cuts all the way around to fold them onto the back. For the middle cut an X then continue to make smaller cuts so they look like pie wedges and fold them to the back and glue.

Don't forget to cut a round piece of paper to glue on the back.

I also glued a braided ribbon around the edge to hide all my sloppy work.

Also glue on strips of paper to the clothes pins...I guess you could paint then but I opted out.

Arrange your clothes pins where you want them and then glue down.

Yeah, I coordinated the color of the tea. I like tea but I love coffee.

My friend likes it. The reason for having one is so when people come over they know what kind of tea is available.

I asked my daughter to run to the craft room to get the tea wreath. She ran off and time ticked on. I thought to myself, " hmmmmm I wonder if she knows what I meant" I hear her come back up. "Mom, what's a T reef?" I went back down and showed her what I had made. She said it was cool, and what was it. I explained the concept and what I was trying to do. That is when it hit, this was the "tea wreath"!!!

She burst into laughter as she explained what imagery was in her head. Now I want to make a T that looks like a reef.

What's new pussy cat? wahhh wahhh wahhh

2011-10-19T15:45:00.000-07:00

This is Roooooooo

She is our new edition to the family.

My mom has also moved in with us. I would post a pic of her as well but haven't done that yet.

Rooooo came by her name for her love of being with my daughter and various hidey holes that her sweatshirt holds. Riding around in her hood is her favorite.

This was the investigation of possible spot....the sleeve

"Sleeve Kitteh" here to snatch yo food ninja style.

So with much antics of the new kitten and busy schedule with mom, I haven't been as active in my "new" craft room as I had hoped.

Buuuuut have manged a couple of things.

Like this small revamp.

Don't look behind the curtain!!

Ok, see those boring 2x4's I didn't get to paint? What? Can't see them?

Yeah, they do blend into the yellow fabric, don't they?

So I painted them grey.

I was not thrilled :/

So I tried a stencil

Ok a little better but what about a little white in there.

Ok, getting better but it really was still missing something.

I searched frantically for inspiration....

I found this in the free bin a while back, loved the cover and am going to use it for something.

But this insides were up for grabs. At this point it may seem I just undid everything I done do. hahaha did ya get that? I glued the pages on in random places.

Waited for it to dry and then ripped it off!

This is what I had remaining.

What do you think?

It's kinda got a hip-cool vibe to it.

So give me an opinion. What do you really think? Is it really cool or just crap?

I am not afraid of honesty :)

Craft Center Finale a.k.a Amazing Transformation!!

2011-10-06T18:47:00.000-07:00

Whew! I am finished!!!!

So lets take a glimpse of what I had going on and what I had to work with.

Exposed rafters with creepy spiders, dead and alive. Big ole pile of stuff.

It was like wandering around in my mind. Scary stuff!!

Although in my mind all of this makes sense. Really it does.

So my first attempt was clearing out a spot and faking a desk.

Core door on a pair of filing cabinet drawers. Cost? nothing but freeing up space in my garage. It was a win win kinda thing.

Ok so that is what it was. For many years that's what it was. I am not very good at organization unless I have a giant plan. Hence my giant plan reveal!! Muahahahahah feels like thunder should clash right now.

Ok enough of my meanderings on the the transformation.

HUGE DRUM ROLL..........

TAAAAA-DAAAAAAAAA!!!!

This is my 3 dollar wall transformation which consist of dollar store black card stock and left over Christmas wrapping paper. Coffee table turned bench 10 dollars.

As you can see to the right my shelving was still pretty crappy.

Luckily I already had a bunch of fabric and a few 2x4's

The cheap fix for the exposed creepy rafters was dollar store foam board and staple gun.

The rug was 11 dollars, so I got two.

Dollar store hamper bins for my long stuff.

And all my paint and glue on the shelves plus other stuff.

Oh, also I did no painting what so ever.

It's all dollar tree poster board. I'm kinda excited about that.

hey look more pictures :)

Still more pictures...

Oh, back to the desk area.

I can see all my stuff that I need, when I need it.

It's not as pretty as my inspiration but it sure is prettier than it was.

Although my ruffle is a fail, I'm too dang lazy to fix it.

The painting on the left, my husband painted (first ever) me as a flower and I painted him as well. Yes, he is a bee of course. After the painting was finished he made me play his drums.

This is an old chip rack I found a while back. I like it, it holds stuff.

This fun looking cup is hand painted by me and designed by my daughter.

This painting of the green apple was done by my son when he was 10. He doesn't paint any more. But I have this :) and it makes me happy.

So, that is my art center! Thank you for coming on the tour. I hope you liked it, because I love it!!

You will now find me hiding down there quite often.

I think the cost total for all of it was 40 dollars.

Maybe 50, it's just easier to work with what you got and what people throw away.

crank up the jams!

2011-09-29T10:06:00.000-07:00

So, still working on my art center. Finished making my ruffle skirt for the desk, (it was a fail) and I even got to use the desk last week. But what I sat in was a fold-up chair from the 40's. It's funny the more cushion I have the more I need. Think about it, if you're my age and slightly fluffy, it will all make sense.

I went looking for a chair, with cushion, and wheels. I searched the thrift stores, with much sadness, I could only find the cheapest one to be 15 dollars. That just does not sound cheap to me. Then I went to Wal-Mart and what did I find? This sweet little chair for (drum roll please) 8 dollars! taaaa-daaaaa!

I liked it :) I was not in love with it, but that is ok as it is only a chair.

Like most things I drag home it was not safe from being tampered with. I thought of finding a cool tutorial for recovering with some awesome fabric. Then I realize I only have a week left until my mother moves in.

So speedy was the word of the day. So what is used often for a quick fix? No, I did not use duck tape. I went on to the next one. I pulled out my paint! Then I funked it up, while jamming out.

BAM! just like that.

I have seen many posts on painting fabric chairs and stuff. And yes they are so much more dignified but this is MY art center and I like things a little different. I'm suppose to be inspired down there not restful.

I even did a little chevron just to appease the masses.

So be appeased (shaking fist in the air) hahahhaah sorry, sometimes I just have to amuse myself.

I took it for a test drive and it handles nicely.

Ok time to get off here and bust a few moves. I have lots to do.

I be back soon with the redo.

Didn't know I was a poet, did ya?

the cheap, the colorful and the mundane

2011-09-24T21:30:00.000-07:00

Well summer is over and I am left with two abandoned pool noodles.

No we don't swim with them up here. Swimming is an indoor sport in the Pacific Northwest.

These were left over from doing the roof span in my grey and yellow patio.

Naturally I have been on Pinterest for days on end and have found this genius idea.

Add tape, a little struggle and viola', instant wreath.

Ok the beginning of a wreath. Or a really big circle.

I went with wreath.

I made two, both of them for two friends of mine.

One likes simple and earth tones with green.

And the other loves bright colors.

I hope they like them.

But ssssshhhh, sometimes they read this blog so don't tell 'em.

I have a functioning desk in my craft room now. It is perfect timing!!!

As it is football season and I no longer have to sit and watch instant replay.

I can create pretty things for my friends.....YAY!

Now on to a dilemma.

Or just a mundane wall.

I've recently changed the art on my wall and it has left the wall color kinda,...well BLAH.

The empty space is for my daughter's pic when they come in.

The painting I did a few years ago.

Was inspired by a trip to Portland and some amazing artists there.

The guitar had a broken neck and my husband was going to throw it out. So I rescued it and made it a real "guitar hero".

What drives me nuts is the wall color is so blah my furniture is blending in.

The chair is a wassily chair and it's grey. The couch is actually a sagey green but looks grey int he pic.

My carpet is blah but can't do much with that.

I have dark brown roman shades and gauzy brown curtains.

Also dark brown wood accents.

Now can anyone give me some ideas about what color to paint my walls so they aren't so mundane?

Pretty please?

Progress is happening!!

2011-09-18T22:07:00.000-07:00

So this was my art center, yes it is horrible. Which is why I have been hiding from it for over a year.

That thing on the back wall? It is my painting canvas plastic. I would pin canvas on it and prime it and create. It was helpful when my daughter was younger and would paint with me.

Then my husband bought me a real easel and already primed and ready to go canvas.

Ok drifting from the point there.

Cluttery mess, that is my point.

This is the same wall.

Believe it or not it really is!!!! And I only spent 3 dollars on the wall.

Don't cha love it? I do :)

*whispers* come here I'll tell ya what I did.

It's poster board from the dollar store and wrapping paper.

Pay no attention to the floor I will have that covered. hahhahaha bad pun

The bench is a coffee table I found for 10 dollars and re-painted.

I still need to find cuter things to put under it.

Those are not doors on the shelves (they're canvas) but is where I am going to put doors.

The screen is my fake wall. This is one side.

So as my daughter was helping clean out and get rid of lots of stuff. She was not wanting to let go of our po'dunk easel. She still remembered painting on it. So we decided to make it into art.

The screen is helpful but a little flimsy so we beefed it up and made it.....uhm different.

The cost was nothing but the memories will live on

I had some left over flooring from my son's room. The wall is stronger and now it makes a statement.

What it's saying is in the eye of the beholder.

Got a lot done getting it thinned out and still need to make a few things but with help I should have it done soon. My mom is also going to be moving in soon so it is motive to get this house back in order.

Back to School!!

2011-09-14T16:59:00.000-07:00

As I was cleaning out the downstairs I ran across this forgotten item.

I suppose it's been forgotten repeatedly by different people at different times.

I found it out by the dumpsters of my local thrift store.

I could not bear the thought of it living out the rest of it's ability rotting in some dump.

I brought it home and it's twin and used them for durable end tables in the rec-room.

Alas with the rec-room coming to a close I was left with my twins once again.

After saturating myself with before and afters out here in blogland. I had found inspiration to pretty up this one. Maybe it will be well loved again.

Ok here it goes (cue the drum roll)

Yellow Back to School in Style TAAAAAA-DAAAAAAA!

Yes, I choose yellow as I had lots left over from my patio redo.

I just couldn't leave the inside plain.

I thought of mod podge but couldn't find any cool paper in yellow.

So I pulled out my paint pen and a stencil and then sanded a bit and sealed it.

Sanded, primed and layers of chalkboard paint.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it yet.

I was hoping to sell it.

Maybe gift it......

I do like it a lot but my house is small and the whole point was reduce!!!

Any suggestions?

PS I'm still working on my craft center. The big news is "I can see the floor" whooohoooo progress!!
Anyone wanna trade the desk for some carpet?......anyone.......*crickets*

Lost in my mind

2011-09-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

I have a major confession.

The below pictures are real.

They have not been photoshopped.

This is really my art center.

Actually this is my art center after I cleaned a spot.

This is literally my brain. Stuff I see I want to remake. Stuff I can't throw away because it is needed for something I can't remember.

Having switched to wood heat because gas heat is outrageous, has now left my craft center cold and cluttered.

It may have something to do with the cement floor sucking the life out of you through your feet.

It could be the spiders looking down on you from the rafters.

It could just be life is so busy to remember this forgotten area of my house.

So I had an idea and inspiration.

Idea: actually use this instead of dining room.

Inspiration: yellow and white with black awesomeness

Le sigh* I do sooooo wish I could make it look like that.

But I don't have that kind of budget so it's off to the dollar store, (I will show you that later) and using what I have.

One of the things I have is this divider given to my by my sister. This is the other half of the downstairs rec room area. Nobody uses it because it's cold as well. So it will become my husband's storage area for music equipment and softball equipment. That will make me happy to have it in one place instead of many.

So I have a pretty big task ahead and will be gone for a bit.

This is what I have started, a easy build desk out of a core door and file cabinet drawers.

I was going to paint everything white but got to impatient and covered it in white paper and then sealed it with plastic and yellow duct tape. Cost? ZERO, it's stuff I had in my scary pile.

OH, I almost forgot...UPDATE on KIKI

This was Kiki after the vets, he couldn't stand and had to use the couch and stood like a tripod. I had no hope for him. It was soooo sad and many people were praying. There were many things going on that we had been praying about. One of our friends had been diagnosed with cancer that went from 1 to 3 in a day.

Yet this I know.....God is good.

Kiki is healed!!!! In a week from being kicked, his breast plate turned back in and he was able to not only walk but leap as well.

Also our dear friend has also healed as their cancer is back to level one and has not spread!!

So amazing Jesus healing pets and people I love TAAAAA-DAAA!

Stuff that has been happening

2011-08-25T14:50:00.000-07:00

This is our cat Kiki.

Isn't he cute? We love him very much.

Last Monday I found him in the yard just sitting and staring. It was odd and he hadn't been in to eat in over

24 hrs. Which just doesn't happen,....unless something is wrong.

Something was wrong. I picked him up and he cried. Not meow but cried. I ran him inside, didn't see any blood but something was wrong! I brought him to the vet hosp and dropped him off. They called later to let me know there were no wounds but he was dehydrated and running a fever. They gave him fluids and then found out he had bruising and an odd lump. They wanted extensive tests and quoted a price. I was sad, we can not come up with that kind of money. I told them and they said to pick him up.

I went to pick him up but they wouldn't release him because the dr had ordered x-rays and decided not to charge us. Yay for good dr.s that really want to help. So he stayed another night.

The next day they said we could take him home. I had hopes it wasn't as bad as I thought.

When I got there and asked for explanation of what was wrong with Kiki. I was shown the x-ray and told that someone had kicked him so hard that it broke his breastplate in two. That there is now a inch gap and it is a compound fracture.

I had recently watched Priest and was wishing for some swords to hunt down the evil that did this to poor Kiki.

I brought him home in tears because there is nothing we can do for him. My husband went to the vet hospital to get more information. I grew up on a farm and animals with this much damage get put down because you love them. I don't want him to live in pain the rest of his life. We found out that the 800 dollar surgery would be no guarantee to make him better and he wasn't in as much pain as it looked. He just will no longer be able to jump, climb, run, or protect himself. Which is still really sad. So poor Kiki will no longer jump up and stick his face in my laptop to see what I'm doing. Truly my heart is broken, he has always been my muse.

The one more broken hearted than I is my sweet husband. It is his cat and sometimes an extension of himself.

So the apologies were from many things going on in my life that has kept me away from my blog. There are more things but I usually don't share that on here. There truly is a season for everything and even in the midst of this one there is still hope, and peace.

With our anniversary coming up and what spare money we had vanishing I made a reminder for my husband, that I can change every day or every minute. I saw the idea out there in blogland, so no, I am not the original. I also found it before I found Pinterest which means I have no link to the original. But it is a good idea and a simple craft.

Find glass frame, this one was found at Goodwill for 99 cents. Make a print out of "I love you because".

Leave lots of space to write with a dry erase marker. He hasn't noticed it yet as I had the empty frame hanging on the wall. I wish I could write all pretty like but then he wouldn't realize it was from me.

I wandered outside today to discover my water lily bloomed!

That is amazing because when the raccoons show up for fresh sushi they usually have it with a side of water lily root. I think I even caught one of the fish still in there as well.

or it could be a leaf.

So then I wandered over to the other side to check my other "still" alive plants.

They are beautiful! With all the bright colors :)

It makes me smile and then I forget I wanted a really big sword.

It really is OK. Life continues on and we grow with it, we weep, we laugh, we build stronger relationships, we lean on God to get us through. We are broken and jacked up and yet amazingly created. I've never been in control and I am thankful for that. <3

all apologies

2011-08-23T11:22:00.001-07:00

Insert Witty Tittle Here, or how to make a mess in 7 days

2011-08-09T23:33:00.000-07:00

I have not been crafty , (hangs head in shame). I haven't even been decorating.

I've been avoiding and procrastinating.

Until my neighbor decided to replace their 30yr old fence.

How does that involve me? Well I am not the first in those thirty years to put things off.

Actually it seems things had been put off for over 50 years.

Below is a picture of our hedges.

So can you really call it a hedge or shurb when it is two stories tall?

This is the problem, the shrub is now pretending to be trees and have devoured the fence.

Also from what we can tell, the previous owner use to have oil heating. We found one of the tanks enshrouded with 6 inch thick limbs.

After we took life in hand with chainsaw and removed many limbs to find the trunk was over a foot thick.

I am now convince this is a prehistoric shrub.

If we do not get rid of this thing quickly someone will come along and make it historical and we will never be free of it. Did I tell you there are 4 of them?

Luckily we live in a logging town :) our neighbor took out two of the monster shrubs. It was a totally awesome surprise when we came home from church.

So we kicked it in gear and called a few people to come help us. They did, and after they took out the two remaining shrubmonstrosities. It was decided that while we had chainsaws and knowledge the carport could accidently on purpose meet a tragic end.

Can you see the giant tank in the back ground?

So now I have a giant pile of debris but an grateful it is no longer a decreipted carport.

While the carport was meeting it's demise, a couple of the men with chainsaw still in hand did some prunning for me and removed a dead holly tree from my front law. This was all man work and I was glad to make breakfast and lunch for everyone. So nothing pretty yet.....but boy do I have lots of ideas of what to do with so much new space.

Before all of this I did have a friend over for my famous steak salad and some sangria'

So here's a pretty picture

yummy taaaa-daaaaa!

PS if there are spelling errors on this I am sorry. I am not very good at spelling, or anything related to good grammar. The grammar nazi's attack me quite often :/ so all apologies. I hit spell check but nothing happened. Surely I did not type this whole thing without mistake.

Finial-ly something really easy

2011-07-28T12:29:00.000-07:00

Not sure if you have ever seen these giant finials. That are way beyond my price range and even if they weren't I still wouldn't pay that much.

Maybe I'm a reverse snob...sorry to all you wealthy people out there.

So anyway I was wandering in my local thrift store and came across this lamp but they wanted 10 dollars for it. Still too much, that is until it went on sale for half off. 5 dollars? I was on it,

While standing in line (which wasn't easy, as this lamp with shade is almost tall as me) the lady in front

of me asked what I was going to do with that. I knew she thought it was hideous, the expression on her face said so. I smiled at her because I knew I had a diamond in the rough. And told her I was going to tear it apart and make something else.

See it?

I love that is has a solid wood base and the top is ceramic.

Well look at it now............

TAAAAAAA-amazing-DAAAAA!!!!!

Sigh

I wake up every morning with this loveliness before me.

Thanks to 5 dollars, some heavy duty glue and white paint.

Nothing like a happy ending.

Grey and Yellow Patio Completed!!!!

2011-07-27T14:04:00.000-07:00

Hooooooraaaah! I have finished!!!

Let's reflect on what I started with, shall we?

Nothing much. That's what I started with.

I found the bench for 5 and rug for 3. I had yellow and grey in my mind for colors.

I did a couple of simple builds with the help of my son (the wall) and my husband (the roof)

This is the wall before turning grey and other things being attack with bright colors.

This is the roof. I came up with the idea of simple 2x4 panels resting on the garage roof and a cleat on the house and secured, with an added plastic corrugated roof panel.

Easy assembly, and to protect the roof I put a pool noodle around the wood.

Yeah we forgot to take off the strips but at this point I'm just tickled to not be rained on.

So I then went about adding stuff and accents and art.

I'll give ya the total at the end.

Art 7.50

Tables 5.99

Rugs 19.00

Pillows 3.00

bamboo shades 6.00

roof 80.00

Wall 10.00

numbers 3.00

Random stuff put on wall....free

giant spoon painted with chalkboard paint....99 cents

Awesome ice buckt 1.00

Punch server 6.00

Bar made from found wood and 3.00 worth of tile.

Never did find a new to me bbq so free.

I did change my file cabinet planter.

The bowling ball dove off and crushed my bunneh.

So I switch it out a little bit.

I still haven't fully secured the ball yet. Never know when I might need to bowl something over... Hhahaha?

So there it is new and improved patio.

Ready for the rest of the summer and maybe a little of fall.

It really makes me want to paint my house.

Oh well, punch anyone?

Or maybe watermelon martinis?

Oh the total cost of this redo is around 150 dollars. I think it was well worth it, what do you think?

rainy days and coat hangers

2011-07-15T19:30:00.000-07:00

So it's been raining for the past few days and I've been feeling a little stiff and sore in knuckle areas.

Yet I am bored out of my mind and have to do something. With the help of my lovely daughter and my feet we will create.

No More Wire Hangers!!!!

No actually that is exactly what we need. I only have little sticks so we are using little hangers.

Grab one, stick one's foot in it and pull. It will resemble a petal. Work it around the cheap hangers are the best because they move easily.

Now these little things are knee-hi's. Find the colors you like but I would avoid flesh tones, not just flowery enough. Did I tell you I'm making a flower? No? oh.....I'm making a flower.

There will be duck tape!

And some wire. It's just easier to show you.

These are my rods, stick, thingies. There were once part of a pants hanger that I converted into a headband holder. headband holder thingy

Check out this duck tape flower it's veyr similar to this flower.

So you stretch the knee-hi over wire petal and hold it fast with piece of wire. Then bend and shape it until you like the looks of it. Take duck tape and tape straight piece of coat hanger to dowel, stick, rod thing. One petal at a time. Then cover stick with green tape. Find a ball or other fake flower and glue in center of nylon petals.

Now you have flower fit for twirling. Make a few more for a bouquet.

I decided to experiment using the same technique.

Can ya guess?

I used a light green nylon and then sprayed dye on the edges and dried with blow dryer.

I glue another ball on top but covered it in black duck tape.

I then realized dragonflies do not have antennae.

So I ripped them off and put them on the wings instead. I held it there with a little embroidery floss.

a couple sequins for the eyes

Added some more wire just for added interest. As I was wrapping wire around wire I had a flashback to when my mother use to bring home telephone wire from work. She was one of the telephone operators that would plug away at the giant board until computers came along.

So anyway I remember making all sorts of things out of that colorful wire. Wish I had some now.

Anyone else remember that wire?

So there ya go, something to do with coat hangers and knee-hi's.

Who knew?

These would really make some great party decorations.

I already had all this stuff at the house but to make them I would guess...3 dollars?

Another Goodwill Treasure Hunting Find

2011-07-10T21:48:00.000-07:00

Ok, so ever since Sunni over at Life in Rehab shared her amazing ideas and tools with me.

By tools I mean "Goop" and I do not mean the stuff you clean your hands with.

I say that because when I went looking for it, that is what my friendly Walmart worker lead me to.

I finally found it at Homedepot. Since then I have been searching for things to glue to things.

This hurricane style vase with the giant G was only 1.29......It did not matter it had a giant G on it or it had a slight chip on the edge. I knew I was going to glue things on it. Muwaaauhahahahahaha I had gone glue crazy O.o

Finding this discarded broken necklace was the beginning. I removed fake jewels and glued them to the rim.

Then went back to Walmart and bought some vase filler that went with fake jewels.

Then I let the glue fly!!!!

Can I get a

Taaaaaaaa-Daaaaaaaaa!

And a thank you Sunni (go to her blog and see things first and then check back and see if I stole any of her ideas :D lol)

Can't even see the giant G any more.

Mark it off as a win!

I'm still thinking about putting some glitter on there, or maybe fill it with black sand with an awesome white candle. Or maybe fill it with brighly colored candy, or chocolate......(drool chocolate) Ok, maybe not something I will want to eat.

I don't always steal other peoples ideas. Sometimes I am inspired to make something original.

It's usually not fabulous or something I can teach. Half the time I'm not sure how I did it.

With the weather warming up, we've been leaving the door open to let in a breeze.

Hence unwanted visitors......take a guess what that is.

Maybe if we look like them they will obey us and leave.....

(please know I an not talking about teenagers but insects)

Or maybe not.

Summer is finally here!!

2011-07-07T15:36:00.000-07:00

It's been raining up here, until this week that is. It has been HOT!! like in the 80's. Ok for all of you who do not live in the Pacific Northwest and are now throwing things at your screen. For us that is hot. So I've been trying to stay in the shade and have been piddling around the yard.

Remember the wall my son built upon my instructions that looked very much like a pallet?

No? ....well look below

Kinda lacked something.

Wasn't sure what but foraging I found some paint and wood and altered a few things.

Taaaaa-Daaaaaa

Whatcha think?

Is it too much?

I'm not good at subtle....

The cost was free, just stuff around the house.

There is a hippo underneath, think it needs some color too.

Over by the pond needs some work. A couple of painted flamingos are there to distract you.

Dug out my bistro set, looks like it needs paint too.

So it looks like painting is on my agenda but not before I build a roof for my patio.

Where's my cape........

yeah, I have a thing for lights

2011-07-06T09:48:00.000-07:00

Sorry, this post has no amazing crafting ability. Just amazing bargain deal.

This, sad to say, is my dining room light. It hovers about 2 feet away from the center of my table. If I had nothing but the table in there it probably would be centered. I do not, I have a big ole shelf and my desk. So the location of ugly, dated light fixture is prime real estate for head bonking.

Just tall people though, which maybe why it's taken me so long to take care of the problem, I'm not tall.

I did make attempts at incorporating it with curtains.

I still hate it.....

Paying over a hundred dollars for another fixture, I hated even more.

Then low and behold!!! I went to Lowes' and found this!!!

Know what's even better than that price?

This one!!!!

So now I don't even care if it looks great. I am gleefully skipping down the isle with it balanced on my head.

Until someone saw me and gave me cart. Probably thought I was off my meds. Too bad I don't take any bwauhahahhahahhaaha

I can do jumping jacks in there now. Not that I would or would want to but I could.

I also got to teach a different teenager how to change out light fixtures.

Yes, I am training the next generation to not be stuck with ugly lights.

My living room and dinning are one room so it was great to see it goes with my ceiling fan.

Even if ceiling fans are a decorating faux pas I don't care. They save me from being extremely cranky on days like today. Which is worth more than being fabulous!!

Lacking illumination is not always bad

2011-07-03T12:25:00.000-07:00

Hey, look I found another free chandelier.

Pretty ugly eh? Then again if it was pretty it wouldn't of been abandoned.

So what do you think it will become? I've done 3 chandeliers, black and white, gold french, and green daisy (outside). I have no need for another one at this moment.

But I have seen a few different ideas out there in blogland and think I'm going to try something I've seen modified. Follow along, it's seems kinda simple.

Start with chandelier and remove all the wires. You'll need wire cutters and a wrench.

Just take the parts off and undo everything you find.

I unscrewed the light cups to pull the wires out.

Then I realized I could unscrew the little bottom finials instead.

Oh well

So ya got rid of all the wires, now what?

Put it all back together. I did leave the little bottom finials off.

Then bring it outside and give it a coat of primer.

Have a clue yet what's it gonna be?

How about now? It's a multiply server!

I found this vintage dishes for a quarter a piece.

I was going to keep it white but then I found this color spray paint.

Looooove the blue, sigh, it's soooo pretty.

The ones I saw in blogland were permanent with holes and stuff. I didn't want to do that and the cups were big enough to be stable and a quick add on for the top. (It's the brass plate thingy that mounts to the ceiling)

Now I can add a bigger plate and it will be stable plus I can take them off to be washed.

The best part about it is, I can also store it easier without breaking the plates with the added benefit of switching out dishes.

Or throw a bowl on the top instead.

I suppose I could put a teapot on top with teacups and saucers on there as well.

That might be really cute!..... maybe I should do another one and have a tea party.

All in all this cost about 1.50 for the plates and 3 dollars for spray paint.

Plus, if I still wanted to I could put tea lights in there as well, just have to trade out top for painted finial.

Yep, I like it!!!!... now to find an excuse to use it :)

Tea party anyone?

OH yeah TAAAAAA-DAAAAAA!!!

Help! I'm a craftomaniac

2011-06-28T19:59:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I was doing my blog runs and I stumble upon this brilliant idea by one of my favs Life in Rehab.

I immediately stole the idea and ran off to the dollar tree.

I glued them together and decided to wait until I went to Wal-Mart to find something fun and pretty to put in it.

As you can see they are still empty....boo

It's been an odd few days, couldn't wake up one day and couldn't fall asleep the next. Today I realize I have shingles.....(add big BOOOO here)

The store is out of the question and laying here is all I can muster.

I continued to surf old blogs and a few new ones only to find myself stealing yet another idea.

Some one needs to call the blog police and report me.

The other day I scored this for a dollar at a garage sale.

It was filled with broken, or singular earring dating from the 50's to the 80's

I was just hoping to find something amazing to do with some of them.

I did :) and before the down time I had found real Goop (thanks Sunni).

So you slather on the goop

I am working with a clipboard today.

Add random earrings until you like the look.

They pull out the ModPodge and scrapbook paper and get creative.

I made this for Fairly Godmother to be able to use.

Using black and white with touches of hot pink....

makes it even harder to give up.

I think it came out fabulous! I just wish I remembered where I saw it first.

Alas I am not the original on this one. I give props to who ever did it first.

I am just glad I found a craft (something to do) while somewhat horizontal and with the help of my lovely daughter.

In the gardern...kinda

2011-06-20T10:24:00.000-07:00

So does anyone else know about Goodwill's Sunday and Monday sale? It was only 99 cents but recently went to 1.29. It's like a treasure hunt, you find the magic color and then start searching for a lost treasure. I absolutely love it!!! It is the game of re purposing :)

So back in the 99 cent era I found this lamp, I tend to buy lamps for parts and rewire them or distort them but they still remain illuminating.

Well that is until this one. I loved the look but just didn't want to make another lamp. It was like when I figured out how to crochet hats and then everyone I knew had one of my hats. I had so many I was just handing them out to random people at the Christmas Parade. It's the only time of year you can do that without being arrested.

So do you want to see what I did with it? Oh I just remembered, the set of lights I converted into cat proof planters. Ok my bad I was wrong but I'm going in that kind of direction.

So here it is TAAAA-DAAAA!!!!

I found the bowling ball on one of the treasure hunting days and it fit perfectly. Needed some garden art to balance the bunny. The little tea light holders are glued to the file cabinet rod thingies. The only thing left to use on the file cabinets are the drawers.

They are working pretty good as planters!

Scope out my pea crop, no weeds, no bugs, no cats digging in and doing their business. Plus I don't have to bend over or kneel in wet ground. I do <3 these things.

Think I 'm going to have salad for lunch with some fresh pods, oooh yeah :)

VICTORY!!!!! (we will we will ROCK YOU....sing it now)

2011-06-14T12:10:00.000-07:00

Meet my nemesis >-< ooooooooh!!! how I hate to sew. Think we've gone over that while making 50 chair covers back in the fall. It has been long enough I have forgotten.

I had no choice, I needed cushions for outside and the cheapest one I found was 20!!!! for one.

After checking around it appears outdoor cushions are quite valuable and one wonders why you would leave them outside. O.o I am now contemplating a life of crime by stealing people's outdoor cushions and selling them on the black market. My lack of storage and common sense is keeping the thought at bay.

So my attempt at making cushions was a total fail.

It probably had to do with not having a pattern, or measuring. Or even a faint attempt at any kind of structure in making this cushion. I still love the fabric though. Trust me I will still use the cushion (I'm not that proud) and throw it on a stool or something. On top of it being confusing it was waaaaaay to small. boooo See there's that measuring thing again.

So with much apprehension I attempted to redo these awesome chairs a friend of mine gave me.

I stained them a light grey and found some great outdoor fabric at fabric guru. Who knew you could actually find outdoor fabric for 4 dollars a yard and if that wasn't awesome enough shipping is only 4.99 for any amount!! Take that 30 dollar cushions!!!

So here they are back from forgotten to fabulous!!!

TAAAAAAAA-DAAAAAAAA!!!!!

Simply sublime...sigh...

I even attempted artsy photos :)

Here's a close-up of the fabric.

See that little black smudge? Look closer...yeah that's why it was 4 dollars a yard. Now ask me if I care...nope not one bit. I'll just blame it on the cat :D hahahaha

Not only did I have complete victory over my sewing machine once but...

TWICE!!!!!

Have I mentioned we live near a rain forest?

If you don't mow the lawn within a two week span it tends to go back to jungle mode.

Our lawn mower got pulled out, did a few passes and then promptly died of a heart attack.

Thinking about renting some goats.

odds and ends and a possible fail

2011-06-08T16:30:00.000-07:00

Waaaaaaay back in Feb I stopped by Ikea just to forage and see what I could find. I found this for a dollar.

Well it didn't look this nice and it was without it's lighting. It was just a paper husk with a few small holes in random places.

I have witnessed crafty things done with paper lanterns and decide I too would join the ranks of said craftiness.

I thought about cupcake liners or flowers but then a friend of mine asked for my help with her bedroom redo.

She loves vintage and funky. Me, I love cheap or free. I found a broken light fixture at a yard sale and got it for, yet another dollar.

Next came the idea to cover it in craft paper with her chosen colors.

So retro TAAA-DAAAAA!

It's got a retro sputnik feel to it so I threw in the flowers to not be over the top.

I was a little afraid she wouldn't like it. I called her down to take a gander so I could fix it if she didn't.

She didn't like it.....she loved it! I am soooo glad :)

If you want to know what I did, I'll tell you. I cut a bunch of circles and mod podged them on there along with cut-out craft paper. That's it.

After staring at my wood wall, I realized how much it looked like a pallet. I have nothing against pallets, mind you. I actually love them, but it's not a pallet. So I stained it and am now thinking about that.

What do you think?

I'm thinking about framing it out in black or something....

So I was cleaning out some stuff and found a decent size frame with glass and decided I would try my hand at a dry erase board with fabric. I spray painted the frame a lovely red and found a metallic shiny silver that was all crinkles. It was looking awesome!

Then I was pushing the metal dohiggies back down on the back and I hear a kriiiick.

DANG IT!!!!

The stoooopid glass cracked, broke, became instantly useless. :(

Now what??? Go buy another piece of glass? HA! not for what glass costs.

Throw the glass away and use the frame? Maybe but that is more work than I want to do.

SOLUTION: use it in the design......GENIUS! maybe?

I ran and grabbed my glass glue and ran it along the cracks and covered it with red ribbon.

Brown ribbon would of been better in hind site, but my daughter grabbed what I asked for the first time.

Dang my mouth not catching up to my brain.

So then I added branches with my glass paint marker.

So you decide...SCORE? or FAIL!!!

I tested it, it still functions.

I love other people's gardens!!!

2011-06-06T21:58:00.000-07:00

I know I have said this before, "my thumb is not that green". I want it to be green, and sometimes I even achieve a little success. Then I confuse myself with thinking I am a farmer. Then get caught up in something twisted and become a herbicidal maniac. I don't want to kill the plants. I'm not even aware of when I am killing them. It's a Jekyll/Hyde thing.

So many people have such great and fragrant gardens and I just thank God I am related to some of them.
It makes it easier to forage if you know the people who own the land. Less conflict and yelling.

I went to my nieces today to drop something off but I did have pillaging in the back of my mind as well.
I can't help it!!! She has lilac trees everywhere and in different colors and healthy and in bloom and .....and.....an. They smell so pretty.

Plus the ones I had ~~stolen~~ found and lovingly given, were starting to die.

Aren't they simply amazing and just.....PURPLE.

You know what's even better than free???

Love and family that will tolerate you stealing their flowers.

As I was leaving with my bouquet, I walked by her spring peas...I couldn't resist.

I yelled out "I'm eating your peas too" and munched a few.

They were delicious and you could taste the GREEN.

Yep, family with green thumbs rock!

New old stuff and Folk Life

2011-06-01T14:09:00.000-07:00

The most amazing thing happened the other day. Someone messaged me and asked if I wanted some stuff. I said "of course!!!!" and I went to their house and this is what they gave me.

Isn't it awesome!!!

Vintage cedar chairs and this metal table!!

The possibilities are flooding my brain. Color, pattern, classic or whimsy, so many options to choose from.

I will have to think on it before I start but it will be re posted once done. It was a good day!!!

Then last weekend the sun actually came out and we were in Seattle when this happened. It was amazing!!!

This is the "Folk Life" festival and I recommend it to anyone in the Seattle area on Memorial Day Weekend.

We got there when they first opened up and got to look around before the crowd got there.

Lots of music, food, and wares from around the world.

As well as local entertainment.

We even were able to kick back and be a little creative ourselves.

I made a special "monkey" hat for the day. It was worth it for the smiles that it created.

Many photo opportunities, especially against the EMP.

The Urban Craft Uprisisng was going on as well so it was a two fer.

Artist were everywhere

It was just a beautiful day here in the Pacific Northwest.

The soccer fans were out as well, I'm gonna take a wild guess and say he was rooting for Mexico.

It really was a good day and the only thing that gave me pause was the cost of parking in Seattle.

But I so would do it again.

Almost there and can't wait to show someone

2011-05-30T15:38:00.000-07:00

My son has finished the wall for me. It is really beginning to come together. Come with me on my guided tour of my usable patio.

The wall is behind the couch.

This is my sitting area, hopefully people will come and join me :)

Using art to tie in the colors. It is getting there, although it is still lacking fabric and soft stuff.

Over on the other side we have my small kitchen.

The bar is still being made, I started with simple and got carried away. My K.I.S.S. ability is broken.

It is in the process of being tiled and accents added.

Still have a nice walkway and we won't be stumbling.

Although it needs to be prettied up.

This is the wall from the parking lot. I think I'm going to stain it dark brown and add something to it,....not sure what gotta see what I can find first.

It is really starting to come together and some may think it is finished. I am not some. I just got the hard lines done and I am also soooo wanting to get a better grill. This one was a propane cast-off I turned into charcoal with the help of a baking pan. I want to upgrade to real propane grill, never had one before. If Craigslist doesn't help me out real soon, that reality may continue.

I am loving my planter! I have even kicked it and all that happened was my foot hurt.

Isn't that awesome?!?!?! The cat can't knock anything over nor the teen mow it down.

I am giddy.

Isn't it cool? After I succeed in growing lettuce and snap peas. I might throw a big leafy plant in there for the rest of the summer.

Yep, it's beginning to look like a real patio and maybe have a real summer party, with people and everything.

So far this is what I've spent

bench/couch 5.00

rug 3.00

wood for bar and wall 29.00

tile 5.00

art 5.00

table .99

coffee table 5.00

planters 9.00

grey stain 1.50

Everything else I had hanging around or was free.

Now to cozy it up.

Really Cheap Art

2011-05-23T11:40:00.000-07:00

This is a discarded Ikea Lacks table top. Actually there's two of them. The were abandoned outside my local Restore. So love when that happens!!

I thought it would make a totally awesome outdoor canvas and if I screw up, who cares it was free.

Have I told you free is my favorite number?

To convert it to said art d' object, you need wire and staples. I suppose I could screw in eye screws but I'm into simple.

See? A couple of staples and pounded in with a hammer and instant hanger.

Then I just painted a simple poppy. and added grey squiggle's to tie in grey...dang how do you spell grey anyway? is it grey or gray?

So I didn't prime it or anything wanted to use the black for shadows.

tada

The tada would of been bigger but I am never impressed with my art work.

Ok next up is this funky framed cloth thing I found at a thrift store for 5 bucks.

I think it might of been silk screened but I'm not sure. I just really loved the colors and knew it would work for the patio redo.

The major problem was, the dirt, mold spots, and some one writing on it with what appears to be a sharpie.

Poor neglected, abused art :( it needed to come home and be loved. It even liked me very much, it said so.

So I pulled out my duck tape and paint and even a few sharpies.

TAAAADAAAA!

It is looking so much better. I hope this encourages you to bring home neglected art and love it.

The patio now has theme, it called fun and enjoyment.

I'm seeing spots!!!!

2011-05-20T20:48:00.000-07:00

I have accomplished a few more things. Remember the glass top and croquet set and board?

Also the 3 dollar rug I found at the Restore

Well, they have been transformed!!! I painted it grey first and then decided it was too much grey,...so.

With the help of a random teenager. Not mine, sadly, but she was awesome to help me.

Isn't she cute?

I had ambition to do "the chevron" stripes that are so hot in blogland right now.

But then I realized it would take math and measuring and I am just not that anal or even a smidgen of perfectionist in me to do it well. So we came up with a different design that took very little effort.

(I like very little effort)

All it took was dollar store plates, spray paint, some rocks, and some pieces of wood.....oh and of course duck tape.

TAAAAAA-DAAAAA!!!!!!

So much cuter than the boring classic Asian design. Plus part of the rug was destroyed and I was able to cut it down to fit better. OH yeah the other pic. That became my coffee table.

My husband bought me an awesome cement planter for mother's day. My thumb is not very green but I grow irony, witty, quizzical, with a touch of insanity, very well.

Do you get it? Teapot, croquet balls, wickets, and pink flamingos?

"cuz we're all a little mad in here"

They call it Mellow Yellow

2011-05-19T15:33:00.000-07:00

Remember this relic from age that brought you polyester pants suits, hot pants, bad hair and comb overs. Apparently a lot of people want to forget that era. I found this abandoned thing at Goodwill. It must of been there quit awhile as I got it for 99 cents.

To be honest the only reason I bought it was the 99 cent price tag. But not any more, I will now keep an eye out for these forgotten reminders of a past some purposely forgot.

Do you see the potential? All I had to do was remove the top part by cutting the wire and unscrewing it in the middle. I screwed the piece under the wood back in with wood screws (it was a nut and bolt system).

Fill in the holes with a real easy tip. Shove a chopstick in the holes and break off. Take some wood glue and sawdust and make a paste and shove in the holes so the hole is fully filled. Then wait until dry, find something else to work on so you can forget about it later. Then sand it down,....tada no more hole.

I did toy with the idea of this.....I just loved it but I needed something more practical.

Ok, I did also think about possibly tile to cover the top of the table. I really wanted to make sure it would be water proof. But that would of been too much time and money.

After filling in the holes and then sanding it down, this is what I came up with. Total cost? 99CENTS!!!!!

All the paint I had here at the house sooooo

TAAAAA-DAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!

It came out better than I expected :)

The top was painted grey and then I used my yellow paint pen to draw the dandelion.

Then I sealed it up with a few coats of clear.

Yep, definitely best dollar I ever spent.

How to cat proof planters....and various ramblings

2011-05-17T16:41:00.000-07:00

So what does this and

this have in common?

This!

So what is my solution?

This...

huh?

Did that help any?

Every year I find these cute pots (all ceramic) and I put them around my house in my vain attempt at "pretty".

Every year I find them through out the summer in various pieces. I've even kept the pieces in a delusional thought "I will use them for a mosaic." I seriously need help.

But not this year!!!! It will be different!! I have figured out metal doesn't break easily.

Thanks to the Restore and a couple of thrown out file cabinets, my planters will survive!

TAAAA-DAAAA!!!!!

It's even being warm and friendly. Plus they are screwed into the wood and are going nowhere. HA!

Now the picture below is not. It is stuck in a time warp, but I found it at Goodwill for 99 cents.

Can't loose there......I think.

"Editaaaaath get me a beer" is echoing through my mind.

(for you young people, that was a reference from a 70's show called "All in the Family")

So tune in next week for the conclusion to this week's episode.

Grey and Yellow, Grey and Yellow, yeah uh huh you know what it is.

2011-05-10T15:35:00.000-07:00

I am back, once again with randomness. This here is Reginald P. Wiggliesworth. I found him wandering around Seattle (five dollars!!) last Easter Weekend. Right now he is sitting in my living room.

(He wasn't wandering around, I was! )

Not sure where to put him yet. So he's just sitting there where the zombie heads use to live.

I've also gotten a few things done for the grey and yellow scheme.

Like this chair....

Why yes, I did use duck tape. Thanks for asking. I sanded down the metal part, just enough to prepare for painting. Then I sprayed a few coats of gloss white. Then I started to cover the vinyl straps with duck tape. Started with the back/underside first. It looks soooo much better!

This is what it looked like before I started

This is the board I got for a dollar. I took off all the hooks and spray painted them silver.

Then painted the board white, added tape (not very straight and perfect, I have to admit) and then spray painted it yellow. Then of course put the hooks back on.

I guess I really should of measured the distance but I didn't and I sure am not gonna now.

My laziness won out. I have to admitt it wins far too often.

What I'm working with

2011-05-05T20:48:00.000-07:00

So with my bedroom done and the rain slowing down. My attention has been turned to the cement slab that is outside my back door. Although is it really the back door if it's the only one that gets used? So off garage sale hunting I go. I have an idea and it involves yellow and grey.

Theses aren't going into the plan but I found them for only 40 bucks and I'm excited about it. My husband is a drummer and can fix them up for some kid that can't afford them. :)

Ok, so on to the bits and pieces that will become my new patio "outside living space" and be used for more than walking through. Here in Washington (the state) that is only for a few months out of the year. Yet I am hoping to make it more waterproof than it is now.

The lights were a buck a piece and the glaze and paint a quarter.

I really just love this light.

Then I found a glass top and the other thing for 6 dollars total.

The old croquet set was thrown out by an unwitting person.

This great bench was only 5 dollars at the ReStore.

The outdoor rug 3 dollars at the Restore and the chair I found years ago for 5 dollars.

My duck tape flowers survived from last year.

Although the red one faded quite a bit but I can always paint it.

This wonderful thing below was FREE. My favorite number and soon to be a very useful and sturdy planter.

Just gotta cut the wood down and add rocks and dirt.

So this is the beginning of what looks to be a wonderful summer relationship with my patio.

Alas old friend, I have neglected you and allowed you to wither away but no longer. People will want to spend time with you. To stop and rest, laugh, enjoy, stay dry and maybe even eat a meal.

Right now all it's saying is....

SIDEWALK

and Ugly. Might as well put an old broken washer out here.

Any suggestions would be appreciated, really, I mean it!

My ReDo with Purpose - Completed!

2011-04-29T23:00:00.000-07:00

I have finally completed my bedroom "redo with purpose"!!!! I am sooo excited to share this with all of you.

I was going to terrify you with before pics but they has disappeared off my computer. :( I do not know what it is with me and before pics. At least I blogged about the dark cave that was my bedroom, here's the link if you really want to see it. http://craftingoccurs.blogspot.com/2011/03/slackerville.html Yess it is dark, and messy and unorganized and lacking all flare.

This is a new section, I figured out how to post before pics. Thank God and technology for the snipping tool.

So this is my bed (hangs head in shame) it is not fabulous,it is not tidy, it is not picture worthy. Actually this is as neat as it got most days. It is made out of a core door, mattress foam and fabric. I loved it once,....years ago, in a far, far place.

This below is the clutter corner to beat clutter corners. I even removed some clutter just so it wouldn't look as bad as it really is. Everything in my room was brown!! I tried to break it up with a patch of blue on the chair but that was a fail. Brown walls, brown rug, brown dressers, brown chair, beige trim. I was living inside a Hershey bar without the benefits of chocolate!

Brown dresser I found at a thrift store for 40 bucks. Nice and old but veneer going south.

Yes, that is a bamboo stick being held up by duct tape and staples. Don't you love my window treatments?

The other window is just fabric and staples.

Yeah, that was my room, and it was even darker before I changed the light out with this ceiling fan. It had only one light bulb. Oh, and behind the curtain there are sagging mini blinds. Just the cherry on the top. Now you can truly appreciate what was done. Now back to the previous blog.

So I was inspired by this picture of things I can never afford.

Isn't it pretty? I was even going to get a stuffed dog just to complete the room. Then I became obsessed over the chair. I came back to reality and let it go.

So without further ado.

Complete TAAAAAA-DAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!

New bedding and reupholstered the headboard.

Painted everything white!

my side

his side

preeeeetttyyyyyyy

I have also come to love my chair even more than the one I was obsessed about.

cool huh?

back to the wall. Yes I still have the other window, but that has to be replaced and then I want to make a shutter and paint it the color of the walls.

Yep, I like it. It feels like a real bedroom.

Chair Before and After or how I faked re-upholstery

2011-04-28T17:21:00.000-07:00

I was on quest for the perfect chair. I found one, at Pier One but it was 200 dollars more than I had. I went in a desperate search for something similar but it only got more expensive. So I gave up and started searching for fabric. After weeks of surfing the web I finally found "the" fabric. I was sooo happy until I looked further and saw it was only one way to buy it. As a bundle of 16yds for 80dollars. Getting cheaper but not cheap enough. So I continued to search for fabric, mean while a friend of a friend got a message to me they were going to burn this chair. They had entertained thoughts of bringing it to glory but that's as far as it got. They were now ready to let it go or burn it. I have often thought of burning a lot of my stuff and fully understood what she was going through. I rescued the chair.

Poor chair, it was once stylish, kinda.

So now I had even more of passion filled upholstery search to find awesome fabric. Not just meh, but the kind that will make people go , wow!!.

I began by ripping off the old pleather and removing thousands of nailheads. My hands were red for days!!

Then another few weeks went by and I gave up my search for amazing and focused on affordable. Upholstery fabric is not cheap, people. So then I had this genius idea (I live near Seattle) coffee bags!!

So I troddled down to the nearest coffee roaster and grabbed a few bags (buck a piece) and made sure they had cool writing or graphics. Then I went to JoAnnes with my trusty half off coupon. After a few days of toil and sweat and sore hands.

TAAAAAAAADAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

It doesn't just sit there it screams "LOOK AT ME!"

So I do.

I reused some of the nailheads and I also duck taped the legs. Too afraid to make a commitment to paint.

I do confess it is not fully finished. I haven't put on the arm fronts thingies. I just put duck tape on it to see if I like red. Still thinking about it.

So that is my faking it re-upholstery.

This chair cost maybe a total of 20 dollars to redo. So much better than the 200.

One last look? OK....

Redo with purpose

2011-04-27T20:52:00.000-07:00

So the walls are a beautiful "spring is here green" and the window treatments are white, light and airy. Sigh it's just sooooo pretty yet not too feminine. I wouldn't do that to my husband, I like him being a man.

So this is my duck tape cover mirror and a vase from another room. I also re-used an old suit case and small thingy (not sure what it is, bought it for a dollar 8 years ago)

This is closer (zoom in here)

Next up is my side of the bed, with the fabulous rug I got from CSN. The mirror was 3 dollars from thrift store, repainted and also owl repainted and pussy willows from yard.

Another close-up

Looks almost professional, if you squint and have a glass of wine.

The next wall is on my husband's side and it was a little more pricier. Although I did find the fabric at an outlet for 9 dollars a yard and the frames at Wal-Mart for 3 a piece. Oh the other objects da' art, thrift store find painted white. Did I tell you I am sick of painting things white?

I only have two more things to accomplish, the bed and headboard and a chair. I also have delusions of hanging a full wall of shelves around the bed. In my head it seems easy but I think I've deceived myself in that area.

Next time I will have the chair and hopefully the bed and the whole enchilada all done up.

It will be complete!!

Coming around the horn

2011-04-21T21:11:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I haven't been posting. I've been working on my bedroom redo with purpose and it takes extra time when you are doing it yourself and you're not able to just buy what you want. I love looking at people's blogs but have come to a conclusion, they have more disposable cash than I do. There's just no way I can keep up and I will no longer try. Sorry :( but really I'm not. The truth is sooooo freeing!! Ok, so I will show you what I have been up to.

Cool huh? I've painted the walls and a few accents.

Not only did I paint the walls with this green but I made the color up. It's a combination of two paint chips.

The before of this lovely owl is in my previous post.

I am also coming around the corner of finally finishing this room. I can't wait I'm so excited.

I really scared myself when painting the room, it was so different and there was just no going back. I look at it now and it just makes me smile. My husband even likes it.

So until next time, do what you can and enjoy it.

If I do it again is it still random??

2011-04-04T17:05:00.000-07:00

I am just gathering away and when I'm not I'm still doing random things. Like this thing. It's a beanie with pompoms so you can pretend to be a Panda Bear. The cat is not pretending, by his expression, I would say it is the look of planning someone's demise. The humiliation he has to endure to be fed.

I also realize you can not see black pompom ears with a dark background.

Did that help any? NO? Well shootarooni!!

Uhhmmmm imagine a white hat with black pompom ears. I have also realized making pompoms is an lost art. I will have to show you some time. Not today but someday...

So I'm still getting ready for the big change, no not that one, well maybe but I am talking about my room going from brown to green. I have this large gold leafed mirror that needed something. I didn't want to paint it because it's gold leafed sooooo....I rubbed a couple of brain cells together and this is what I came up with.

Taaa-funkadelic-DAAAAAAAA!!!

Isn't that awesome?!?!

It took me all of 2 minutes to do and cost me nothing. How do you ask? By what magical power have I accomplished this? I will tell you my secret....com' ere...sshhh don't tell anyone.......it's duck tape.

Are you blown away? I am :)

Oh was at a thrift store with a friend last week and found this.

Need I say more?