Dec
2020

My DIY Christmas House

categories: Christmas, Crafts, DIY

Every year Hobby Lobby has a section of Christmas crafts, ornaments, kits for children, and so much more.

At the end of last Christmas season I found this unfinished paper mache house.

I am sure they once again carry them, I just haven’t shopped much this year.

I painted the house several coats of craft paint, white with a gray roof.

Love the look, but decided to add a bit of something else, shiny snow!

Painted the house with a thin coat of Modge Podge and then sprinkled on the snow, and let it dry.

I used a Martha Stewart brand of sprinkle snow.

Beautiful!

Glued a small wreath at the door, and added a battery operated candle inside.

It now sits on my kitchen counter along with some snow covered trees.

There’s a warmth it brings to my kitchen.

For as long as I can remember I have loved little white houses.

I have collected several small white ceramic ones over the years, still looking for a little white church.

Maybe this is the year I find one, or maybe, just maybe, Santa will bring one for me!

I suppose I see our homes as a huge part of Christmas, a place we make special for those we gather with and love.

Hope you all are finding some time to work on a Christmas craft for yourself or others.

Enjoy this season with love.


Dec
2020

Christmas Memories

categories: Christmas, Crafts, DIY, Family

Yesterday was a cold, windy, and snowy day.

Brrrrr…..

Our first snow of this year.

It was a perfect day to stay in and work on a Christmas project.

I put together a sweet box of cards, let us call them Christmas memory cards.

One card for each day from today until Christmas Day.

I printed the cute, colorful cards out on my home printer, found them on Pinterest.

Love the whimsy winter pattern.

On the back of each card I typed a Christmas season related question.

Questions about remembering.

Remembering childhood at Christmas.

I have so many regrets that I didn’t ask my Momma questions about her Christmas days growing up poor in Kentucky.

Poor or not, knowing my Grandmother, I am sure she made Christmas for her children as best she could.

So each night at supper, I am going to read a card.

Allowing me, my husband, and son to recall old Christmas memories.

I placed them all in a bright box I found at Hobby Lobby for $2.00 with the 50% off sale.

Can’t wait for supper tonight so that my little family can talk about their Christmas memories.

I sure hope my son’s are special.

Hope you all loved my snowy day project as much as I did putting it together.

Stay warm, enjoy every single day of this season.

Love and blessings.


Nov
2020

Wood Bead Votive Tray

categories: Christmas, DIY, Flea Market Finds/Thrifting

A few weeks ago, on a beautiful warm and sunny fall day, I met a good friend for lunch.

We decided on an upscale hamburger restaurant.

We all sometimes just need a burger and fries!

After lunch, we put on our masks, and went to a sweet gift shop in the same outdoor complex.

Of course, I saw something I wanted!

But the price tag was $46, not at all in my budget.

It was a long tray with wood beads along the sides, filled with different small glass votive candle holders.

You all probably know what happened next, I tried to make it myself.

The fun part of this project was collecting the glass votive pieces.

I managed to find several at the thrift store for 25 to 50 cents each.

Each one unique.

I searched for a long narrow tray everywhere, with no success, until I ran across an old, inexpensive sign in my basement stash.

I turned it over and glued wood beads all around the edge using E6000 glue.

Once the beads dried, I painted the entire piece with white spray paint, several coats.

So very pleased with this project. Perfect for the season.

How beautiful it shines!

All the different glass holders look amazing.

Love this piece displayed with some of the little white houses I have collected over the years.

This is officially my first Christmas project for this year, with many more to follow

Hope you all agree that with using what I have, and spending only $3.00, I now have a beautiful keepsake piece.

Hope you all have a Friday that shines in so many ways!

Blessings, and please be safe.


Nov
2020

Fall into Thanksgiving

categories: Autumn, DIY, Flea Market Finds/Thrifting

After working with my Sister on hosting two showers, and decorating for an outdoor wedding, things have calmed down a bit in my life.

All those celebrations turned out wonderful!

Well worth all our hard work, for those we love.

I now had time to add some simple fall touches to my home without breaking the bank, using what I have.

Not many, but just enough to take me into Thanksgiving.

Used the same front door wreath I have had for years. I have found nothing I like better for the season.

As I do every fall, I placed fall branches in my balloon vase, the look is simple and beautiful.

Used the pumpkin pillows I made from placemats in the living room, love them!

See the how to here.

Added some orange to the back porch.

Brought out my oil can jack-o-lantern, see the DIY here.

Placed a few mums and pumpkins on the front porch, and the fall wood sign I purchased at the Country Living Fair in Columbus, several years ago.

It was such a fun and memorable trip with my Sister, a trip that had been on my “bucket list”.

Needed a little something for the dining room table so I used several fall picks, and a $2 thrift store basket, to make a simple fall arrangement.

The old thrift store basket needed to be cleaned and I also decided to darken it a bit with stain.

Gathered some fall picks left over from the outdoor wedding centerpieces.

Turned the basket on its side, and filled it, including a small battery operated candle.

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I love the small candle nestled inside the basket.

It’s just simple, full of fall colors.

Looks like I am ready to fall right into Thanksgiving, and then on to Christmas!

Oh my, Christmas!

Hope you all are enjoying the fall season with all its beauty.

Love you all who take the time to read my blog.

Thank you, with love.


Nov
2020

DIY Plant Stand

categories: DIY, Flea Market Finds/Thrifting

Every year I take many of my house plants outside on my back porch during the warm months.

We have had frost for many nights now, so I was happy that I had just finished a simple plant stand project.

Using an old drawer from the thrift store, legs purchased on Amazon, craft paint, and a sponge brush.

I removed the handle that was on the drawer, cleaned, sanded, and painted the drawer a lovely yellow.

Unfortunately, I changed my mind on the color and yes, I decided on white!

As you all know, I love white in my home.

Not really sure white is considered a “color”, but it is mine.

I replaced the ugly handle with one more my style.

Attached the legs, which was so easy to do, and this project was completed.

Love it!

It is perfect for my large Hoya plant I have had for many years.

Love the tri-color of this plant, and the pink shades that pop out from time to time.

I have a smaller Hoya plant that I placed in my small greenhouse, a project made from picture frames.

Hoya plants require very little care, just water and a little sun.

Love that I can move the stand from place to place.

Sunny window to sunny window.

If you are a thrift store or flea market shopper, never pass up an old drawer. There are so many projects that can be made using drawers.

Sadly, warm days appear to be coming to an end for this year.

I have already used my heated throw several times and gathered up all my warm socks, it’s time!

Yes, it is that time of the year.

Thanks for stopping by, be healthy, be happy, stay warm!

Blessings.


Nov
2020

It Just Takes 10 Minutes!

categories: Random Thoughts

Something that I love is sending and receiving notes and cards in the mail.

In this tech world I suppose posts and texts are easier, but how special is it, that someone takes a few extra special minutes more to send a greeting.

I feel a card or note is like getting a gift.

A gift written and picked out for just me!

Over the years even Christmas cards from folks are few and far between.

I have a box that keeps all the cards and notes I have received over the years.

The old ones from my Momma and Dad, Sister and Brother, are especially heart warming.

This past week I received a Halloween card from a friend and old co-worker.

Matt, always sends me a card at Halloween and Christmas, always.

He writes a bit on the inside of his cards, this year he wrote….

Love his little pumpkin drawings.

The wannabe art teacher in me gives me a love of card making.

I worked on Halloween cards to send out to a few folks I know would love them, especially Matt.

I spent time picking out special images, and this year I even made my own stickers for the envelopes, what fun!

Hope Matt loved the scary image I picked out for his card.

My friend Matt is fun, enjoys life, shares my love of flea markets, and I miss him.

Hope to see him again one day, but for now cards to each other will have to do.

Why don’t you all take an extra 10 minutes this Christmas, especially in these troubled days, and send cards with special greetings on the inside to all you love.

Love to all.


Sep
2020

DIY Multi-Purpose Beverage Server

categories: Autumn, DIY, Home Projects

Hello, on this first day of autumn.

What beautiful weather we are having, cool and sunny, afternoons in the 70’s.

Today I thought I would share my last outdoor project of the season, a multi-purpose beverage server.

Made with two, 2″ x 2″ x 8′ pieces of wood, for only $2.48 each, some wood screws, wood glue, several pieces of scrap wood, and wood stain.

That’s it!

To assemble, I cut 4 pieces at 29″ long for the legs, and 6 pieces at 12″ long for the sides.

Not a difficult project, but patience is needed when gluing and screwing the pieces together, one section at a time.

The top slats were made using some scrap wood, 1″ x 2″ x 15″ pieces glued to the top.

Stained the piece with a light wood stain to finish.

Not only can it be used for holding galvanized tubs, it makes a nice plant stand.

Or an outdoor side table.

Only $5.00!

The rustic look is perfect for outside on my crooked back porch.

Love it, and I made it!

Hope you all are enjoying the weather.

Beautiful fall days, created by God, for us.

Hope you all are gathering your fall pumpkins and mums, adding God’s fall colors to your home.

Enjoy this season.

Love, till next time!


Aug
2020

My Old Pine Trunk

categories: Home Projects, My Simple Home

Hey folks!

I had an old wood trunk made of pine in my basement.

It has been there for years.

The trunk is well over 30 years old.

Simple, so simple, even down to the wood handles.

I brought it up from the basement, and decided to use it as a small coffee table for our family room.

Not only will it make a perfect table, but it has so much storage for such a small piece.

It was a bit scratched up, but a little sanding, and a new coat of stain, made it like new again.

To add a little extra something, to bring it up-to-date a bit, I added some black wheels!

The wheels came from Amazon.

After everything was completed, the old trunk, now a coffee table, turned out really nice.

Our family room is where we spend most of our time.

It is not a fancy room, just a room to relax, take a quick nap, and just be together.

A simple room, just like my pine trunk.

This room is filled with things I love, especially lots of family photos.

I hold on to things probably too long, but in this case, I am glad I kept this trunk for over 30 years.

See you all for my next post!

Take care, be happy!


Aug
2020

DIY Cupcake Stand

categories: DIY, Family

Before the Covid 19 shutdown, we were planning a baby shower for my niece Carrie, on March 21st.

Needless to say, it was postponed.

Her sweet baby boy was born on Easter Sunday, and is now 4 months old.

He is beautiful, like his Momma.

So now, me and my sister are planning a gathering in the park for Carrie and Baby Josh.

Having the shower in the park gives us lots of room for social distancing.

We are also busy planning a bridal shower in late September for sister’s granddaughter, my niece Amber.

We are having cupcakes instead of a cake. and I wanted a two tiered stand to hold them.

Could not find one I could afford, so I made one with some wood plaques, and other wood pieces left over from other projects.

I used two different round wood pieces, a chunky leg piece, and some small candle holders for legs.

Painted everything white, and using E6000 glue, assembled the stand.

It’s perfect, and will look so nice on the table.

Another idea is to serve a small cake on the top tier, and cupcakes on the bottom. Giving guests a choice of flavors, white cake, chocolate cupcakes. I like that!

Amber’s bridal shower will have a fall theme and my cupcake stand will look so lovely surrounded by fall colors.

Folks, I never thought at my age I would be having such fun planning showers.

God has truly blessed me, allowing me to be part of the lives of all my nieces.

So thankful.

I will post some photos of each shower.

What fun!

Love to all of you, every single day!


Jul
2020

My Pottery Barn Frames

categories: DIY, Flea Market Finds/Thrifting

Hello everyone!

On today’s post I want to share my version of Pottery Barn’s Weston frames.

I have loved these frames for years, but not for $39.50 or $49.50 each.

They have large rings and decorative wall hooks that hold the frames.

A unique look for wall photos.

So you all probably guessed, I made my own.

Actually they were quite simple to make.

I purchased 2 frames at the thrift store, they were $2 each, also some small hooks and metal rings, ordered from Amazon, and 2 Command wall hooks.

The frames had a scratch or two on them, so I sanded and spray painted them black, as well as all the other pieces.

Attached the small hooks to the back of the frames.

Assembled the frames with my photos.

Attached the Command hooks to the wall as directed.

That was it!

I selected one of our wedding photos, and our 50th wedding anniversary photo for my frames.

I really love the way they turned out.

Hung them in our bedroom on a wall that needed something special.

Not exactly as Pottery Barn’s, but darn close.

Just trying to stay busy during these “stay at home’ times, hope you are too!

Have a wonderful Friday, and a wonderful weekend.

Be safe everyone.

Love to all.