Holiday Boutique // I'm A Seller!

I've been working on some wood + paper goods to sell locally!! The first boutique is in October, so if you're local, please stop by!!! 

We've Been Busy!! {Ombre Mint Dresser}

Projects. Projects. Projects have been filling most of our weekends. We tackled quite a few since I've been on a nesting kick to get things done before I pop. One such project was our downstairs tv situation. It had become quite a situation...

{the before... all manner of bad.}

We got a tv as a birthday gift a few years ago from my parents. We don't have basic tv but sure enjoy movies and hulu. So, it's been sitting on this small entertainment unit right from the beginning. One of those "temporary solutions that quickly turned permanent" as the years piled on. Enter Theo: our tornado toddler. He would get into the DVDs and fiddle with our player every.single.day. It was getting old. Quickly.

So, W found a great deal on Amazon for a tv wall mount and I hunted craigslist {like it was my part-time job} looking for a dresser that would fit our mini-wall's dimensions without being a road obstacle for foot traffic. Found a dresser, but didn't love its look so I knew immediately when we bought it that I'd be re-doing it. But it had a veneer finish. My quick search online led me to chalk paint.

I'd heard of the stuff but didn't really know much beyond the words "chalk paint" "shabby chic" and "Annie Sloan". So after a mini-lesson {there are a lot of posts out there on it}, I learned about its "chalky" or thicker properties, zero prep-work benefit, and that it adheres to pretty much any surface without hassle. I also learned the price point of AS chalk paint. Yikes! So when I found I {Heart} Naptime's homemade recipe, I figured "why not?" All I had to buy was my normal paint in the colors I wanted + plaster of paris. Easy enough.

4 T Plaster of Paris to 2T HOT water
Mix in container until all the clumps are gone
Mix into 2 cups of paint

At the store, I bought my Plaster of Paris {$6}, my normal gallon of classic white, and then four sample sizes of a paint card I liked: graduating shades of mint. I went with a half batch of chalk paint in each of the five colors because my dresser had so many different colors and not much of each. Worked like a charm.

I did minimal sanding since I didn't really want a distressed look for the dresser. I then covered it in a polyurethane protective coat that we already had on hand. I would love to try the wax finish sometime. Heard it really finishes off the piece nicely. Next time. ;)

We mounted the tv, put the dresser in {after drilling a hole in the back of the top drawer for cords}, and mounted my antler project: ebay antlers + white spray paint + gold craft paint

We are loving the extra storage {currently the bottom two drawers are still empty! So huge for us. ;)}, and the simple fact that T is not creating a mess nor are our movies out for all to see {tacky!!} Definitely one of those "feels so good" projects.

Gallery Shelves {DIY}

Our master bedroom has been a work in progress for what seems like FOREVER. It was re-painted well over a year ago, and every since, we've been slowly changing things out or updating them. The most recent addition has been some gallery shelves that W whipped up a few evenings ago. 

You can buy these from Pottery Barn for the hefty price of $55 but that would only get you one 4-foot ledge when I wanted two five-foot ones. Instead, we used Ana White's plans for these..she calls them the "$10 shelves" since that's how much the wood costs to make these. We just used pallet wood that we already had so they were free! Yay! Favorite price. They're basically just three pieces of wood nailed together. Super easy to make in a single night and very easily custom size-able.

So W built, I painted {high gloss white; 2 coats}, he hung, and I filled 'em with this and that from around the house/garage to have a look-see.

And so they sit above our yellow dresser,

where I can enjoy more memories from my bed! Yay for fewer blank walls!

Time for some more gushy, lovey dovey, romantic prints and pictures, no?!?!

Gettin' Spooky {decor}

A few weeks ago, the fall box came down and slowly but surely our house is turning a bit spooky! I've made a new front door wreath which I'm in absolute love with. Already scheming up Christmas ideas so I can keep it out!

{tutorial found here}

Our entryway inlet has a few added touches:

I got the print a few years back and added my mustache hoop art that wonders around downstairs without a permanent home. The beware sign was a dollar store score.

Our mantle:

At this point, just a hod-podge of what was already on it plus a few random additions. The candy corn garland I made out of felt and is hung on black ric rac. The witch print is found here. And the centerpiece pallet sign is incomplete {still need words} and will eventually go to another home. But it works there for now until I mail it off. 

The winning space thus far is our bat wall! It turned out so awesome. Amazing what 50 little card-stock bats can do! The flight of the bats:

{tutorial found here}

Happy harvest month!

Burlap Bubble Wreath

Welcoming fall--one burlap piece at a time!

A girlfriend and I spent a craft night creating this fun burlap bubble wreath to welcome fall. I immediately loved its messy, non-uniformed look. Once we figured out the first 'bubble', the rest fell into place. We did add the extra step of wrapping the wreath in burlap before adding the bubbles too. That way we didn't have to worry about unwanted styrofoam peeking through. Whole thing took just a few hours.

I added a little berry bunch and an "S". I got a small wooden one, traced/cut some paper then mod-podged it on. I hot-glued some twine to it and tied it around the wreath to keep it secure. 

Much closer to being ready for fall!

Featured! Hooray!!

 

My "Rise & Shine" pallet art was featured on tatortots & jello a few days ago!! Yippie for colorful creations. I loved the tin can lanterns and the amazing quilt also mentioned. So many creative projects!

Rise & Shine {Pallet Art}

Mmmmkay, so I know how I mentioned here that I was working on a piece?! Way back in MARCH?! So, that piece. I didn't really love it. It took up the dining table for way too long since I just couldn't get to finishing it. I was forced to move it into the garage where it was abandoned. Until last week. 

Leave it to crafty inspiration or whatever, I lugged my big pallet canvas back into the house one night and just got to work. I actually already had some words stenciled on it so I had to work around those and cover them as I went. I was inspired by this google image...

{source}

With some frog tape, sponge brush and craft paint, I just went for it. Most of it was free hand and I worked pretty quickly through it. No lolly-gagging this time. I just wanted to create something and finish it. Well most of it.

I used the cricut machine to make stencils for the "Rise & Shine" then painted those on a few days later.

 W hung it up with some screws, wire and a heavy weight picture hook.

Ta-da!

This is what it was meant to be...right?! It's such a fun bright piece that lightens up our downstairs!

It looked a little lonely up there so I added something else. Excited with my version of the "pallet art madness" trend!

Rise and shine and give God the glory!

Circle Garland Tutorial

I became a circle garland fan with our dining area re-do. I'm finally getting around to that tutorial. For this garland, I used felt but the one hanging in my house is made of paper. Both are great mediums to use. Obviously, felt is much more durable and hardy than paper. But the steps and outcome are the same.

I started with tracing lots and lots of circles.

Cut, cut and more cutting.

Into stacks.

Next, I worked out my pattern...

 Then dumped them into bowls...

Almost good enough to eat, eh?

Seriously, love felt.

Time for assembly! Basically, I just fed the felt circles through the feed-dog and the foot; making sure to keep the foot down the entire time. Once it catches, it moves through on its own. Continue to feed the felt through and adding each new circle until it catches. Don't worry if a few stitches pass before the next circle catches, the spacing won't matter in the end.

I kept my bowls close so I could just grab a new circle fast and feed it through. The biggest pain is keeping up with the pattern and getting circles in fast enough.

And out comes the garland on the other side.

In no time at all, you'll have a super long garland...

Ready to hang up...

or wrap up for transfer!

Easy way to add some whimsy to a room or party!

Meet Our New Backyard

The biggest event/project that we tackled over the long weekend was our pathetic backyard. Now, looking back of course, I wish I took 'before' pictures for the full effect. But during, I thought for sure you, dear reader, would have lost complete faith in our ability to keep-house. Just imagine: toys strewn about, a patio table set sent from the 80s that my parents generously donated during their move five years ago, a random rectangle of fake grass cluttered with giant tree stumps and dried dog poop, and neglected planting pots stacked haphazardly. A giant jasmine bush that hasn't been pruned in ages and could be mistaken for Cousin It. Don't forget the miscellaneous weeds here and there that climb to your knees. Got that imagine? Now see why I didn't want to include a 'before' picture?! 

Our backyard wasn't always so neglected. W has spent hooooours out there trying to get it back in order. But it really was a two day project and we never had two consecutive days that we wanted to spend back there. {So grateful that we did a fun adventure weekend last weekend so we could be content to stay at home.} The other problem was we kept the few items that we wanted to get rid of in the hopes that we would trash them soon. That never happened. This time we really did the dirty work and moved them out of the backyard. We finally had a blank slate. The back now has designated purposes and has so much more room! Seriously, we made a break-through.

I pulled out lights and our recycled tire chalkboard {that I bought from our local antique fair} from the garage; both I got two years ago. 

We used the lights to section off the 'dining/lounge' area which is right outside of the sliding door.

As you can tell, we don't have anything to sit or eat off of yet! Still working up a plan for that one.

Next, we randomly found a stake out here which I knew would work perfectly to complete this project. W nailed the boards in and we stuck it into the ground next to our baby lemon tree.

E and I potted the rosemary and mint this week. And I put up a burlap banner I made for a friend's upcoming outdoor wedding. I may not want to let it go, but it needed a good temporary home to motivate me to finish the rest of the crafts for her event.

The little plant area sits next to E's hoop and basket of outdoor toys. The open space is available for a kiddie pool during the summer or maybe a little sandbox. We're still planning on putting a large chalkboard against the wall for the boys to use, but like the furniture, that's a project for another day.

Even if we aren't outside, I turn on the lights every night. They are fun enough to enjoy even from inside the house.

So amazing what a simple box of lights and a couple of lanterns can do to enhance the mood. :)

We're kinda obsessed with the space now and have had several picnics outside since the weekend. It's gonna be a fun summer! Now, if only we can fully complete the back before summer's end I'll be ecstatic! Nonetheless, I'm in love and so glad we put in the two days that were needed to get 'er done!