Catch up before the year closes...

Busy Gift Making

Busy making gifts; the hardest part is waiitng for the glue (mod podge) to dry!!  Some days are still more humid than others so it is taking forever and I am not always the most patient person on the block.

I am enjoying this one.  He has a butterfly on his shoulder!  This is still a work in progress.  I wanted to crackle the paint but I learned that you can't crackle over metallic paint.  I wound up with an umber, bronze and white acrylic paints.  Then sanded to distress it, then added the picture with mod podge, let it dry and coat the whole thing 2 times with a foam brush.  When it was dry, I used a regular paint brush with mod podge just on him, using regular brush strokes as if I were painting.  When that dried, I cut a new sponge into small wedges, dipped in umber and dabbed around the picture edges and wood.  I did this a couple of times to get the look I wanted.
THIS IS WHAT I STILL WANT TO DO:  I am in the process of sanding around the picture edge and will dab again with umber paint.  I am trying to get a look that the picture and wood are one.  To finish, I will coat again with a last coat of mod podge, put in a box and mail off to his Mom for Christmas... so ssshhhh don't tell!

This is scrapbook paper on stretched canvas and an actual photo on top.  I need to fix some spots of the overlap but stepping back for now.   shhhhh another secret gift!

and doing lets of tiles.

Trial and error

Cork covered clock

I loved the idea BUT someone forgot to mention that if you want to work with cork in this manner, it would probably be better using real cork not those plastic kind.  Hot glue did not hold.  The clock itself had a shiny plastic border around and the only glue I found that worked was an auto (as in 'car') glue.  I was going to leave it the way it was for now BUT when I went to re-set the time I broke the clock.  The corks just popped right off and the glue popped off easy too.  I'll just wait till I have enough real corks for the next project.

Just some other things I've been working on

This one is in the bathroom.

I have gotten obsessed with this type of writing of phrases.  More to post.  I got this idea of doing a water color painting with phrases over it BUT although the ink is permanent, I'm still wondering if I paint over these will the ink still run.  Stay turned because I will be finding out soon.

Started making gifts...

Decided to try some of the ideas I've been finding on Pinterest!  This one is an actual photo on a 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 ceramic tile.  There is a lot of information out there on decoupaging copies of photos to everything but I didn't go that way and I'm pleased with my results.  All I did was:

1. Use Mod Podge to 'glue' Scrap Book paper to the tile; make sure to work bubbles out; let dry;
2. Mod Podge photo to tile on top of paper; make sure to work out bubbles; let dry;
3. I added 3 to 4 coats of Mod Podge on top of photo and paper; drying in between coats.

Slowed down for a couple of weeks

Hi and Good Afternoon!

I've slowed down for a while here.  I still have the kitchen and bathroom to finish.  I'm hoping to get the bathroom done over the weekend and will take "finally done" pictures.  I still have to finish painting the trim and decide if I want to paint the ceiling a color too.  I didn't paint inside the tub area and want to look in to a moisture resistant paint.  I have to go through and clean out the medicine cabinet and under the sink... I know there are things there that are at least 6 years out!

I have been searching high and low on Pinterest, Facebook, blogs, and all kinds of web searches.  I am in love with Pinterest because not only can I save things I like, want to do or/and try but keep track of whatever I want but I also can search others there that may have ideas I'm looking for.  Anything I find on the internet, I can "Pin It" so a file and refer to it later.  I have found so many DIY things to do that I now have a list of a life time.  As a matter of fact, the idea of painting furniture, especially after seeing the prices of, started me by picking up my $1.00 table and choosing colors for the bathroom and kitchen.  It's only pain so if I don't like it, which I really do, I can just paint it again!  I have also found out how to do things I like that I didn't know before.  I am currently work on some gifts that I will share later.  It doesn't require me going up and down a ladder or just standing there.  I need the rest.

What I am doing is getting ready for the holidays.  I want to have everything ready to mail right after Thanksgiving, only because if I wait I will wind up being late.

I'll share more later when I find or buy new batteries for the camera!

Have a great afternoon!

Worked on the Bathroom and needed a break!

Hi!  I started with my $1.00 table and started redoing the bathroom.  It was painted very white on white and actually did nothing for my Croscill shower curtain and bath accessories.  I used paint samples on the table but broke down and used Benjamin Moore paint in the bathroom.  I am very happy with it, although my hand (especially my thumb) hurts!  I still have to small brush the molding at the ceiling but I just had to get things together...I need to get into the shower, do laundry and clean up the living room!

A very bad picture, but you get the idea.



Need to 'merchandize the table and the rest of the bathroom...




This is actually after allot is done but I started by hot gluing shells to the mirror.



Love the "Relax" and how it just goes!



Nate Berkus shell filled candle stick; one broke so the shells are in a dollar store vase with jute string around the neck and holding the star fish and bigger shell... I'm loving it!





Re-finished my $1.00 Thrift Store table

$1.00 end table

A simple sturdy table, after looking for something for my bathroom that would allow me to reach the window to open and close, was a perfect fit.  I am in the process of painting and re-decorating the bath but side tracked to re-do the table outside while the weather permitted.

I didn't have everything I thought I should have to do this but went ahead anyway.  All I did was put the glass top inside so it wouldn't break.  Then I unscrewed the bottom piece, which was a straw weave kinda panel and placed aside.  After just wiping it down, I used paint tape to cover the lighter wood.

I started with Walmart Exterior Turquiose Paint that I had painted my front door with.

Step 2

Not satisfied.

I painted part of the light wood on the bottom with the color I have for the bath room walls and tried putting some on the legs (which I didn't like at all).  Then decided to do all the light wood with the lighter blue paint.  I did leavesome of the dark wood showing through.

Step 3
Spray the bottom

I used a Textured Multicolor Sand Spray Paint

Well, it fits exactly like I want it to but the colors look very different inside... back to finishing painting.

Had to take a break from painting

I was painting in sections and over did it, going up and down my step ladder.  I couldn't find things so cleaned up and started by putting things in place where I'd painted.  I found a 'gothic' book shelf and my toaster oven fits on the top shelf, freeing up more space on my baker's rack.  Although the black is not a big deal, I'm not sure I want black in the kitchen but not sure what to do with it.

The shelves of the 'gothic' shelves look like they have been there forever.

I got these 2 chairs and cushions at the thrift store.
I want to try chalk paint and re-do the cushions.

Re-decorating my kitchen!

I find white walls extremely boring.  After living here about 2 years, I finally got the itch to paint here.  I thought the kitchen was an easy room to start with since I knew my basics of what I wanted.  It would center around a painting I bought in Prague, on a weekend trip with my sister.  I wanted to paint the ceiling and walls a buttery yellow and the cabinet doors a brighter yellow.

Here's what I bought:

• French Cafe Kitchen Curtains
• Benjamin Moore
• Benjamin Moore
• Gothic Shelves
• Yellow spray paint

My baker's rack was a dark green and as I sprayed it yellow, I liked the way it looked without out spraying it a solid yellow.  Leaving some green showing through gave it some contrast, especially against the yellow walls.

as I started to paint.

I saw "French Market Baskets" in my searches, and just so happened to have these!

Baker's Rack

Inspiration Board for the Kitchen

another painting from Prague...Dancing on the Bridge

Paris curtains

use cork for handles

Painting: Sister's Weekend in Prague
(started this all)

a couple of toys from Prague

possible art for refrigerator

mats I found that go

I'm thinking of the awning over the sink with twinkle lights

re-did with cork; going to add more

the front window

my bistro table
(have more of a french bistro chair to use)

toys and coins from Prague
(maybe cork to add)

and my Hiedi

Kitchen Redecorating

This is a painting I bought in Prague, while there with my sister in 2005.  This is the inspiration for my kitchen decorating and re-decorating. (Sorry the picture is on the dark side; I'll post a better one asap.)