Grey and Yellow Patio Completed!!!!

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?

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

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.

Almost there and can't wait to show someone

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

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!!!!

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"