Tag: home projects


Sep
2017

Fixer Upper Footstool

categories: DIY, Flea Market Finds/Thrifting

I am not a person to sit all day, I feel guilty, as if I am wasting the time in my life.

Of course, I do sit and read with my morning coffee, but most of the rest of my day I am working on projects or doing the things needed to care for a home and family.

When my brother-in-law retired he said to me, “I work half of the day, and I rest half of the day”.  I like that, and always remember his words.

I found this footstool at the thrift store, it fits into my plan to try to take my thrift store finds to the next level.

A larger piece for me, but so easy to fix up with really nice results.

It actually appeared to be an old piece by the older type brackets and the very hard wood.

Cleaned the piece inside and out, sanded just a bit, touched up with a light coat of stain.

My original plan was to paint the stool, but after cleaning the wood, I could not justify covering it up, it was quite beautiful.

The fun part of the project for me was finding a colorful print fabric to cover the top.

Surprisingly, the top was easy to cover, a first for me.  I love first time things at my age!

Worried a bit about the corners when covering, but it looks nice.

I am so pleased with my efforts.

Cleaned, sanded, stained, covered. Boom, finished!

Love it, love looking at my accomplishment when I rest my feet.

As I have mentioned before, finding inexpensive treasures to fix up, those things someone no longer wanted, makes me happy!

We all have things we do in our spare time to relax, this is mine.

Hope you all have happy things that fill your days, things that give your life peace, and relaxation.

Till next time!

 

 

 

 

 


Sep
2017

Old Rescued School Desk

categories: DIY, Home Projects

This old school desk has been tucked away in my garage for such a long time.  It was used as a display piece when I owned a little country shop years ago.

Not wanting it to deteriorate further, I pulled it out from its dark, lonely spot.

I knew my little desk was in poor condition, needing some serious love.

The desk is old, and if it were not in such bad shape, it probably would be worth something.  I searched online and could only find one photo of a school desk like mine. It is unique, it folds up like a TV tray.

Love the ink splatters on the top, and also the desk “graffiti”, a part of school history.

Repaired the desk as best I could, a bit of wood glue, and unfortunately, a nail or two!

Cleaned the old wood with a mild detergent and used steel wool on some difficult spots.  Finished up with furniture polish.  Looks beautiful!

I was not quite sure where my rescued desk was going to be placed in my home, but decided somewhere close to my favorite chair in our family room, would be perfect.  I want to use it!

With my son’s help, we adjusted the legs so the desk could be used when I was sitting.

Most of my day time I spend cleaning, caring for my home, or working on projects.  So as best I can, I try to spend evenings with my husband, usually watching political news shows, his obsession! The important thing is that we are together.  Difficulty walking has greatly limited his activities.

Having this desk allows me to write, draw, practice my lettering, while being with him before our day has ended.

It is satisfying to rescue, restore, and love an old piece, giving it purpose again.

Funny, all the words I used in this post, old, rescued, restored, and loved, could be used to describe me, and the life I am living right now!

Thank you Lord.

Blessings and love to all!

 

 

 

 

 

 


Sep
2017

A Tray for “Puss Face”

categories: DIY, Flea Market Finds/Thrifting, Home Projects

“Puss Face” is the name of our little cat.

A silly name my husband calls our kitty which is beginning to stick.  So cute!

We adopted her after our last two cats were killed by coyotes.  It is still so painful for us to believe such a horrible thing happened.  Needless to say, kitty never goes outside.

Puss Face is always so thirsty.  I keep a large bowl of water in the kitchen, but for some reason, someone is always running into her bowl and spilling her water, and of course, we all step in it!

I found an ugly tin tray at the thrift store for next to nothing, decided it would be perfect for kitty’s water bowl.

Just spray painted it flat black, no big fuss, and bought a large new enamel water bowl.

So now, kitty has her own chic, black and white water station!  Silly?  I know, but fun just the same.  Gotta have fun in life!

I also made Puss Face a cute tin for her “treats”.  Just a bit of paint and some stick-on letters added to a small tin can, that was it!

Puss Face is happy, me too!  No more water on the floor, just in the tray.

Special love to all you pet owners. They give us such unconditional love.

See ya all next time.

Blessings


Aug
2017

Fall Placemats to Fall Pillows

categories: Autumn, DIY, Home Projects

I love the fall time of the year, a bit sad to see summer ending.

How quickly the days and months pass.

The older I get, I so wish for longer days, more days.

Fall decorations are out in all the stores.  I found these lovely watercolor fall placemats at TJ Maxx, $10 for a set of four.

The pattern is similar to a pillow at Pottery Barn, shown below, that I love.

Unfortunately, the price of $39.50, is not in my low income budget.

So I made my own pillows from the placemats.

They turned out beautiful, love the soft fall colors in my living room area.

It was a very simple project.

Open the bottom seam of the placemat, large enough to insert a pillow form.  A lumbar form was the perfect size.

The last step, close the seam.  I used my sewing machine, but could be hand stitched together.

I am not a very good “sewing” person, but although my sewing machine hates me, I was able to complete a straight line.

That’s it!

Love my pillows!

Fall is coming, the leaves on my sugar maple are already showing some signs of turning.

Lots to enjoy coming up, cool beautiful sunny days, apples, pumpkins, harvest fairs, just so much!

Enjoy all the simple, precious things of the season!

Blessings, until the next time!


Aug
2017

Learning Something New Everyday

categories: Crafts, DIY, Home Projects

When I stopped working I made a list of a few things I hoped I could do everyday.

  • Have some fun.
  • Be thankful and grateful for all that I have.
  • Be creative.
  • Learn something new everyday.
  • Love and help those around me.
  • Get up early, to enjoy the gift of a day.
  • Smile, and put a smile on someone’s face.

So today I am sharing a “something new” for me, painting using gesso.

Gesso is a chalky finish that is used by artists to prepare canvas for painting.

I found a beautiful blog on Pinterest by Rosemary Villabarnes, (Villabarnes.com). Rosemary shared her technique of “slathering” flower pots with gesso.  I am so very pleased with my first time results.

My pots are so lovely with that vintage look I love.

I “slathered” a few pots of different sizes and shapes, and I also tried my hand at applying to a picture frame from the thrift store.

You will need to buy a jar of gesso, sold in the art supply section at Hobby Lobby or Michael’s, don’t forget to use your weekly 40% off coupon, and also some cheap plastic beads.  I had a bunch from a 50 cent thrift store find, but you can find them at the dollar store.

The pots were easy to complete, give the pots a coat of gesso, allow to dry, hot glue beads to rim, allow to dry completely, and then paint with as many coats of gesso as needed to cover beads, until you have the look you want.

Not a quick project, I completed mine in two days.

I love white dishes, the beaded look on dishes is currently so popular.

My pots have found a place in my dining room hutch for now, but I have many ideas for using and displaying them in my home.

Do you learn something new everyday?

A recipe, the meaning of a word, some new tech thing, or a new creative project like me!

Pinterest is a great place for new ideas.

This blog was a huge learning “something new” for me!  I struggle with it everyday, but I won’t give up!

Living is doing, learning, loving!

Hope my little blog puts a smile on your face!

Love you all.

Here’s Rosemary’s link for the flower pots.

http://www.villabarnes.com/2012/08/fab-flower-pot.html.

 


Aug
2017

Organizing a Small Linen Closet

categories: Home Projects

My linen closet is so very small and always such a mess.

Every single time I open the door, something falls out!

Today I thought I would share the process of this two day organizing project.

Love the way the small closet now looks.  Everything necessary has a place.

The fact that it is so small was the major problem, so sorting and eliminating, was my first step. Unnecessary items had to go!

Really incredible how much I found that just did not belong in a linen closet, how the heck does that happen!

I found other places for many of the blankets and sheets that took up so much space. A wicker chest at the bottom of our bed, and a drawer in our spare bedroom were perfect.

Once I sorted, I cleaned and painted the inside, vacuumed, shined up the tiny space a bit.  The space is dark, so I used the same white paint color.

Gathered every container I could find, baskets, jars, and some wire items, to establish order.

I found these cute foamy stick on letters at Hobby Lobby, they added a bit of fun to the glass jars I decided to use in the organization of items.  Really love the look!

Wanted to make it easy for my family to find and pick necessary items.

Added some wicker containers to the bottom of the closet to hold the many toss pillow covers I have, also cloth napkins.

So now, everything has a place, items are easy to see and find, tissue, Kleenex, soaps, towels, wash cloths.

Sorting, cleaning, establishing order using containers, finding a place for everything, the musts for this project.

Now let’s see if we can sustain the order and keep it this way!

Happiness is…….eliminating clutter and finding order.

Love you all a bunch!


Aug
2017

DIY Cake Plates

categories: Crafts, DIY, Home Projects

Making cake plates is one of the easier, if not the easiest DIY craft projects.

Today I want to share the plates I have made, along with the “how to”.

There are only three things needed to complete.

  • plate
  • base piece (candlestick or small dessert dish)
  • E6000 glue

Finding your glass pieces is the fun part of this project.

Visit thrift stores, antiques shops, or maybe you have a sentimental piece you could use.

There are so many shapes and sizes to choose from, show your creativity!

When putting your cake plate together, be sure your base and plate pieces are not crooked or wobbly.

Lay your plate face down and find the center, apply glue around the top of the base piece, place on the back of the plate, and press firmly.  You do have several seconds, if needed, to adjust, before the glue starts to set.  I always let my plate set overnight.  That’s it!

These plates are not just for cakes, how about cookies, muffins on a breakfast table, a beautiful cheese assortment, small sandwiches.  So many uses!

My sister, who has never really been interested in craft projects, was with me on my last thrift store hunt. She now wants to have a craft day together before Christmas, to make plates for gifts.

We have already started to stash some finds for our first, and hopefully, not our last, craft day together.

Christmas is only four months away!

A lovely pedestal full of cookies would truly be a thoughtful gift for friends, family, co-workers, or neighbors.

Oh! The yummy chocolate cake in the photo was for my husband’s birthday, he was 74 yesterday!

Love to him!

Always!

Eat cake and make cake stands, both are addictive!

Blessings on this Sunday.

 


Aug
2017

Adding Whimsy To My Yard

categories: DIY, Flea Market Finds/Thrifting, Home Projects, Summer

Whimsy is defined as, “playfully quaint or fanciful behavior or humor”.

Add whimsy to your life when you can, it’s happy stuff!

That is what I did this past Saturday, I added some whimsy to my yard!

No need to go into much detail for this fun project.

I purchased two unfinished decorative dowels at Home Depot, sanded and painted.

Selected a small birdhouse from my garage stash of unfinished wood items, and again sanded and painted. Small birdhouses can be found at Michael’s or Hobby Lobby.

Added extra whimsy to the birdhouse by attaching an old knob.

Nestled the birdhouse in my vinca vines for just the perfect spot.

For the birdbath, I simply added a rescued tin pan from the thrift store to the top of one of the dowels.

I pounded the dowels into the ground first, and then using E6000 glue attached the birdhouse and tin pan.

Love the color of the birdbath dowel and the contrast with the old tin pan.

This was just a simple, one day project, that has added a colorful, delightfully friendly, and of course, whimsical touch to my yard that I will enjoy the rest of the summer.

They make my heart smile.

As the week goes on add some “whimsy” to your days, giggle, laugh at yourself and by yourself, wear some color, be yourself when no one else is looking, let your heart smile.

Love and “whimsy” thoughts to all!

 


Jul
2017

Splish Splash!

categories: DIY, Flea Market Finds/Thrifting, Home Projects

We recently painted our upstairs bathroom and vanity in shades of gray.

Gray seems to be a popular neutral color these days.

I have been looking for wall items for months.  Surprisingly, it has been very difficult for me to find something I like that doesn’t say “flush, brush, floss”.

Just not for me, so I made a pretty cute one myself!

It is words from an “old school” song,“Splish Splash”, recorded by Bobby Darin, from years ago when I was a teenager.

Lots of folks use “old school”, so I suppose using those words with music, reflects your age.  Yikes!

It cost me next to nothing to put this together.  I used a thrift store frame that I cleaned, painted black, and finished up by printing out the words, using a “whimsy” font.

Pretty simple!

Fits great between the towel rack and mirror, perfect size.

What’s so fun is that when you read the sign, and know the song, you can’t stop humming it!

Fun for guests to read too!

Hope the week ahead is a blessed one for all!

For those of you who aren’t from my “old school” era, the song is below!


Jul
2017

Frames to Trays

categories: DIY, Flea Market Finds/Thrifting, Home Projects

Hello, happy Monday!

Today I want to share a really easy, creative, DIY, thrift store flip, turning old picture frames into trays for your home and entertaining.

This first tray, was a beat-up wood frame that I sanded, painted black, added some cute watermelon wrapping paper under the glass, and some simple handles.

Really cute for summer, so colorful, so whimsy.

I love whimsy!

The second tray is quite different.

Forgot to take a before photo, but it was all wood, with a picture decoupaged on one side.

Removed the picture, cleaned up the wood, and sanded both sides.

I stained one side of the wood insert, and I decided to paint the other side with chalkboard paint.

Added some really nice handles, and I was finished.

This frame was a really unique thrift store find, that was turned into a one of a kind tray.

The fact that it now has a reversible insert is amazing.

Turning frames into trays is so simple.

Next visit, or maybe your first thrift store visit, take a look at all the inexpensive frames, some are new, and try creating a tray.

Endless possibilities using paper, fabric, or even photos under the glass, a little paint, and some wonderful handles.  Hobby Lobby has an entire row of handles and knobs.

Gifts?

Have a creative week, love to everyone!