What was Old ... is New Again part 1

TeenBoy was about to turn 20 so...

We figured that it was time to update his bedroom.

This is what his bedside table looks like now...

However...

Before the makeover it was a plain unfinished aspen table .

Some Fox Black ( HGTV from Lowes) semi-gloss paint

a couple sponge brushes

tissue paper

clear furniture wax

and

Mod Podge

That's all it took to create a Grown-Up bedside table!

I cleaned and sanded the entire cabinet- this was a chore since TeenBoy had been writing on it with chalk... and apparently used the top to keep his pen knife- knife embedded in the wooden top!

Once all the dirt and saw dust were wiped off I painted it Fox Black inside and out with a soft bristle brush. Two coats went on the sides and inside while three were used on the top and back.

Next- I wanted to make it a little snazzy looking with a contrasting, yet manly, treatment on the drawer to add texture, color and interest as the entire room is tan and the floor a natural oak- you know, very light in color.

This look is created by putting a thick coat of mod podge on the drawer front (I did not paint it black but did sand it with the rest of the piece).   Next, I took a piece of white tissue paper- the kind left over from birthday and Christmas gift boxes- and balled it up really tight. Then I smoothed it out a bit and placed it over the mod podged area.     I used scissors to cut the excess from the edges and then added a thick coat of Mod Podge over the tissue paper- gently dabbing with a sponge brush so that the wrinkles stayed put.

Let this dry for about 25 hours and then paint with whatever color paint you would like. You can use latex or acrylic paint. 

Once dried- about 6 hours in this case because it was very hot that day- I used a spray acrylic sealer on the drawer front.

To seal the rest of the cabinet I used clear furniture wax - 2 coats. I buffed after each coat had dried and the final piece was ready!

A simple project for those who want to try something new on an old piece of furniture- beginners and old-timers alike!

Oh- and the brushed nickle nob is being changed- once I figure out what I want to replace it with!

More of TeenBoy's room reno will be coming soon!

It's A Kitchen... Pantry Barn Door !

It's Official...
The Pantry Barn Door is complete...

From the outset it was a BIG job on a non-existent budget...

But HeMan Hubby and I figured out how to create a barn door track ...
Well, HeMan Hubby figured it out and told me all about it...














The door I wanted, of course, did not exist in the land of
Home Improvement
so...
THE Father-In-Law made one to my specifications...
Even when I wasn't exactly sure what they were yet!

Not only does the door fit perfectly across the pantry opening...

but it fits perfectly across the open doorway from the entry hall into the kitchen... 

Now we can close off the front hall to cut down on noise or traffic flow when TheBusyFamily and their FRIENDS are being too social!

A little sanding and some paint... white, magnetic and chalkboard varieties... and Voila'

pantry door open- hallway closed

pantry door closed- hallway open

The finished product is Amazing...

If I do say so myself...

And once the swing out shelving is designed...

and HeMan Hubby figures out how to make it work...

And installs it...

This Pantry will be AWESOME!

It's All Faux To Me... faux paint on kitchen and family room walls... Sponge and plastic wrap techniques

I like to try new things.
I also like to try new colors.
In my clothes, shoes, accessories...and on my walls!

I wanted an orangey color in the family room to liven it up and make it reflect me...

Oh, and be the opposite of what it was.

What was it you ask?

The bottom was dark evergreen and the top was green ivy vines on a white background wall paper.
Now it wasn't bad. The wallpaper covered the top 3 feet while the bottom 5  feet was the dark green. In a huge room with natural light pouring in from 4 windows and 2 french doors... the dark walls kept  the room from being too bright or unwelcoming.

But, after 15 years I wanted something different to go with the whole kitchen/breakfast room/family room make-over.
We built the house 19 years ago with what was then an innovative floor plan featuring an open area across the back 2/3 of the house that comprised the kitchen, a morning room, and the family room.

The family room and morning room (breakfast room) have large french doors that open to ...
well the family room opens  to a large deck, while the morning room doors open to nothing since we haven't agreed on whether to make a small balcony for a  bistro set or to make a larger one that spans that half house to connect the morning room with the doors that lead out of the dining room to nothing.

It took us 10 years to agree on a storm door so...don't expect a decision on this any time soon.

SUNFLOWER is the name of the top color...
the glaze toned down the orange without making it look dingy
the  bottom is sage green but I am thinking it might
become something else soon

As I was saying.
I wanted color...and boy did I get it.
Remember all that light we get in that room?
Well, it made the walls glow... and NOT in a good way.



So rather than repaint it all again, I opted to use a faux finish to tone down the orange without ruining the punch of color I wanted.

The glaze is transparent so it adds just a hint of bronze

 To achieve this look I used a faux finish wall glaze- found in your craft or home improvement store, a roll of plastic wrap and a soup bowl.

First- glop some of the faux finish into the bowl.

Second- add a teaspoon of water and gently mix it into the glaze until it is very watery-
-- add a few drops of water at a time if needed to get it thinner.

Third- tear off a piece of plastic wrap that is large enough to cover a casserole or baking dish...about 9-12 inches long...and then lightly scrunch it into a pouf .

Close up of the kitchen wall ( below) after glaze has dried

The final step is the hardest...

Dip the top of the plastic wrap pouf into the bowl of thinned glaze and gently dab
excess onto a paper towel.

Now just lightly dab the pouf onto the wall.


More  glaze on the pouf makes a darker contrast, but too much and it will  run down the wall.
For the kitchen wall I wanted a slightly different texture so I used a slightly damp sea sponge to pounce the glaze over the wall  in large random circular motions.

Experiment with your wall...if you don't like it you can wipe it off with a damp cloth and start over!

The kitchen wall from a distance...the same glaze used on the orange walls in the family room toned down the yellow and gave it the look of old-fashioned plaster walls

So go ahead...
get creative...
try something new...

After all...
It's Only Paint !

Scrapbooking...not just for books!

Yes, you read that correctly!

Did you know that you can  get 16x16 square frames designed to fit scrapbook pages at your local craft supply store?

Well - Now You Do!

The best thing about these frames is that they are similar in depth to shadowbox frames, but not quite as deep and not nearly as pricey!

This means that you can create beautiful scrapbook pages for any occasion...
Complete with the embellishments that make  your heart sing...
ribbons and bows
buttons and brads
coins, concert tickets...
even a child's cherished keepsake or small trinket or toy...

And it will fit!

I  had a great idea to make a page for each birthday  for my grandchildren with photos and momentos from that year ...
put it in a frame until the next year.


Once removed from the frame for the new page the old one would be put into a scrapbook album.

After 18 years there would be a completed scrapbook  for each child to take with them on their journey to adulthood...be it college or marriage or  whatever... that would keep them in touch with  their loved ones and the memories of their childhoods...

I am sorry to say that plan has not worked out as I has planned... I still plan to make those pages...I just have a few years to catch up on that's all.





So-here  is what I did instead...
To commemorate the visit from HeManHubby's brother and his family from DownSouth this year I out photos of their little ones and our grandkids- FancyPants and BabyG.








I think it turned out well and it looks great on the wall between the kitchen and the family room.




Happy Crafting!
        ~d

Me...Knitting a Sweater... who woulda thunk it?            

Yes !
I am knitting a sweater. Well, actually it's a jacket-y kind of thingy with cap sleeves and a cute wrap around look...

I found it on Knitty.com - a site that is a MUST SEE for anyone looking for a new project.

Here is the link to the jacket-thingy:

http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer08ATTheyteach.html

I'm looking forward to finishing this foray into knitted garments... my first, but hopefully not my last.

Did I mention I have NEVER knitted clothing before? Did I also mention I have never used a graph pattern instead of written pattern in my life...

I think I'm doing okay... So far.

Trying to get the right gauge... not as easy as it looks! 

Back panel done... only frogged it 3 times! 

Pattern Close UP

Today is the Day... That Color Me Crafting Begins!

Yes... I created this awesome placemat...
from my own pattern... don't worry I'll show you how too!

Yes...
Today is the day that I start to live again...

Okay, not that I wasn't living but...

I kinda wasn't.

For the past 10 months I have been working days...
as a school nurse...
in an elementary school...
with little kids...

And they whine...
and they snot on you...
and they throw up on your shoes...
and they cough in your face...
and they ...
SUCK THE LIFE RIGHT OUT OF YOU!

And then there's the families...
Like a box of chocolates... some are just full of nuts!

Okay, not really, but kinda, yes.

It is a job that leaves me mentally, if not physically exhausted...
Tired of being accused of being too nice, not nice enough, and everything in between...
every single friggin' day...

Which means that when I come home and sit down for a minute...
I rarely have the energy to do anything else for the rest of the day...

But Wait!
There's More! 
( yes, that IS the voice of Billy Mays you hear in my head)

 

These little critters are easy and quick to crochet... perfect for gifts for your little critters!

                                                                                    
                                                   




Today
(or tomorrow, all depends on when you got to sleep), is the last day of work for me for the school year...
YES...
That IS the Hallelujah Chorus you hear...(again, in my head)...
And YES...
That IS the pop of a champagne cork ( those things could put an eye out)...
And YES...
Those ARE tears of joy and elation as...
CREATIVITY and INSPIRATION come rushing into me...
like a flood from the heavy rains of Spring after a long, dry spell...

YES! YES! YES!  ( Think Meg Ryan and the diner scene from When Harry Met Sally...)
Today is the day that Color Me Crafting begins!

well...
actually, it is tomorrow since today I HAVE to go in and finish up my paperwork...
but then...
Look Out Crafters of the world... I'm gonna have a ton of stuff to show you...
okay, maybe not a ton, but certainly a lot...
well, enough to get you going...?
some ideas to inspire you to go to the craft store...?
to get off the couch and go clip some coupons...?
alrighty then...
PREPARE TO BE CRAFTING!)