A New Springtime

Something I Like To Do

Today, I actually squeezed in a bit ofcrafty painting. I had gotten a gift certificate to A.C. Moore for Mother's Day from teenager so I went there yesterday and picked up some bottles of paints. I wanted to bring some summer into the house so here is what we did. I say we because the girls couldn't resist a good craft moment.

 
We used the items to prettify the living room shelf. The girls painted the watering can and the wheel barrow that are hanging from the hooks. All of the items we had already but painting them gave them a whole new look and added a bit of freshness to our home.

 
I had this wooden box that I had been wanting to paint for a long time and here is how it came out.

 

 

I have been trying to incorporate more photos into the home decor and I just love it.

 
There is still some workto do on top of this hutch but we painted a couple of things and put them up until we can finish. Some flowers in the box will be nice to top it off.

 

 

This old scale is one of my favorite decorations; it was left in our home by the previous owners.

 
Abigail painted this rooster off -white, it was a rust color and didn't show up well against the mauve.  It felt good to do a couple of craft projects and make some old things new again and it was a great time spent with the girls. I hope you find some time to do something you like to do!

 

A Small Project

 I have been looking for ideas on how to better organize the things I am going to need and use for the baby. Since, there is no specific nursery room. I will fit a special space in the girls room for now. Even if it is a boy, I want to utilize the girls room since it is the one that is kept neater.

I will get another plain white bookcase to put right next to the existing one. I want it to resemble something like this from Pottery Barn Kids:

 I really like the baskets but they are a bit pricey for me. I came across the idea of covering some diaper boxes and gave it a try to see how they would come out. I was pleased with the results.

Before:

 

After:

 

 I padded the outside with some batting and used a thrift store sheet to cover the box. I didn't do any sewing; I used Aleene's Tacky Glue which is super strong. I didn't cover the inside but on the ones for the baby's things I will.

 
 I like how these boxes hide the unsightly clutter. I was so excited that I had enough energy to actually do a project! I think I will try to get some kind of soft green checkered or polka dots fabric to cover the ones for baby.

 

 

 

Bookcases Are a Girl's Best Friend

I got a nice surprise  from DH today, he came home with a bookcase he picked up at a tag sale. It make my heart skip a beat, I'd rather have a bookcase than diamonds anyday. ( can you relate?)

I immediately knew what I wanted to do with it and where it was going to go.

 
There was an empty space behind DH's ( actually teenager took it over) recliner. It has been screamin' for something to be put there. I couldn't believe how perfectly it fit.

Displaying books for the kids to read is one of my favorite things to do. If they see the covers, they are more apt to grab one and start exploring.

 (top shelf)

On my trips to the thift store, I have been blessed to find a few great summer reads. All of the books on the shelves have cost me a dollar or under. 

(second shelf)

A few summer decorations can add to the curiosity of the season and help reel the kids into a good book.

(third shelf)

I told DH the story of another blogger who's DH brought home an old window as a surprise. He proceeded to blush and as I went to give him a kiss he triedto run away, of course I chased him around the table and he gave up. Poor Guy!

(fourth shelf)

The two blueberry themed books are for Baby Eliana, just the right height for her.

(fifth shelf)

This bin is filled with American Revolutionary War kid's books that I will be reading to the kiddos for the month of July to go along with our America,the Beautiful projects.

It's funny how certain people are attracted to certian things. Some like cars, some like diamonds, some like old windows but for this girl bookcases are my best friends!

Thanks DH for my nice surprise!
 
 
 

Going A Bit Coastal

I am getting a bit excited  changing over to brighter colors from the primitive tones I used to have.

I am able to use different natural objects  to compliment the aquas and the greens I want to use in the kitchen and bathroom.

Here are a few of the coastal decorations I have gotten so far:

I found this jar about a month ago at GW, it works great filled with some sand gravel DH had for his fish tanks. I also added some shells, sea glass, and some glass shells and a glass sea horse.

Placed under a sea shell wreath I rescued from a friend's GW pile, the two make a great combo.   
 
This glass beauty makes a great soap holder, another GW find for a mere $1.

 
A great lil' saying to remind me of the precious ocean and the wonders of nature. A  dollar at the Christmas Tree Shops.

A small vignette sits on the bathroom windowsill, so while taking a soak one can dream of the ocean. The glass mosaic candle holder allows the light to twinkle giving a sense of relaxation.  

I found this book,"The New Cottage Style", on my weekly GW visit last Thursday for $1. It has many wonderful ideas and the pictures and information are put together well. It gives ways to figure out a personal cottage style that suits each individual. 

I also got a project crossed off my list. These bar stools go to my kitchen island and were in bad need of some tlc.  The color will go well with the new coastal look. 

Have you been going coastal lately?

 Check out more great ideas at Metamorphosis Monday, today at Between Naps on the Porch!
 

Lightening Up

Things are coming together in the decor department. We were blessed to be able to get a "new to us" dining room set off of craigslist. I was thrilled with the price and the product. This is what we got for $200.

 

We are still looking for two more chairs but for the price we couldn't pass it up. Our family eats together almost every night so for us to finally get a decent dining room table is fabulous.  

 

I have a thing for place mats, they make a table so pretty and inviting. I picked these out because I needed something to go with the wall color. I like the brown background it really makes the other two colors pop. $1.29 each at Christmas Tree Shops.

I have to have a bookshelf in the dining room because this is where we do most of our work. I want to find one to match the table on craigslist but for now this little one works. 

I picked up these baskets to go with the placemats but even if I change them I'll be able to find something to go with brown and green. The curtains are also new they are called crushed voile, sheer with a crinkle effect.

Moving on to the mudroom; I added these cute lil' ceramic garden clogs.(Marshal's). I left everything else. I think I can still get away with the eggs. It reminds me of a country farm.

Here is my band aide for the kitchen, sheer panels and bag holder. There is still dark maroon and a mustard color and a very country border on the walls. Hubby hates it. He was thrilled with the celery colored curtains.

I got this grocery bag holder mainly to show him the color scheme I want to have in here. He was thrilled. I never realized how much he detested those dark muted  primitive tones.

 

These are some of the inspirational  pieces. I  picked up the pitcher for a buck at a tag sale last weekend in between our two parties. It says made in Denmark; I like the lines and the color, of course.

I am excited about the new changes. I think lightening up will be a pleasant transformation.

 

 

 
 

Freshening up The Front Porch

 
This cute lil' table was in need of some tlc and I thought it would be perfect on my front porch.

I painted it with Delta Ceramcoat acrylic paint (sea foam). I did not prime it so the color looked quite different from what it looked like in the bottle.

 
 I decided to put the flower arrangement I made last week on top. I added a birdhouse and a heart to make it more interesting.

The cross bars on the bottom were a perfect place to make a vignette.

All of these items were from previous decor endeavors. They were in a bin in the basement waiting to be used once again.

 
The table in the middle is another item that has been moved and painted different colors to suit temporary needs. This time it will serve as a place to play cards or have a bite to eat. I will be on the look out for some chairs to go around it.

This is the other side of the porch. The furniture, except for the chair on the right, is actually plastic made to look like wicker. It is  practically maintenance free. All I have to do each spring is wipe it with a damp rag and it looks brand new.

 

This is a flower arrangement made from more basement goodies.

My daughter,who is 8, put this one together.

The porch is such a wonderful place to relax and we use it more and more each year. There is a wonderful breeze and coolness on those hot summer days.

I have a bit more to do on the other side but I am glad I got to do this much today.

For more decor and fun project as visit Funky Junk Interiors and Saturday Nite Special.

Mother and Daughter Painting Party

 Hannah and I headed out to our Church's thrift store today.  I am so thrilled about  this. It is a cute well kept lil' shop in the basement of the CCD building. Hannah and I may volunteer to mark and sort the items soon. The only problem is that I may want to buy the items before they go out.

I ended up getting these cute eggs in a crate for $2.50. We decided to go to GW and on the way I found a chair on the side of the road. It was the usual plain brown but I knew we could fix that.

 

 After GW we went to our friends new store called Vintage Treasures. It was so exciting to see all of the wonderful pieces of furniture they had painted. 

There red,  black , white distressed pieces but the ones I really liked were the pastels. A luscious pink table, a happy yellow chair and all of the wonderful accessories to go with them.

We were so inspired when we left we decided to have our own lil' painting party.

This girl can paint! It is in her blood. She did a fantastic job and we had a ball making jokes and getting our  decor on. The budget is tight so we used paint we had left over from other projects.

I actually mixed the two colors from our bathroom upstairs. A very pail green and a slate blue. 

The chair has a very faint hint of greenish-blue which is hard to see in the photo. Remembering the soft colors from our friend's shop inspired us to bring that into our project. I painted the chair and Hannah did the bunny and pail. These were all pieces we had in our stash.

Here is a small bookcase turned shoe rack. It was maroon when we were prim. I decided to decorate the top shelf. Previously, it held the winter boots but those are now back in the basement!

Our bench also got a fresh new look, DH's shoes go below and I think I am going to make a thin cushion for it out of some thrifted fabric and batting. The walls really need a redo but that will be another day's work. As you can see out the window it was getting dark.

Here are some close ups:

We really had a fun day together at our mother and daughter painting party!! Hope you enjoy!

Enjoy other creative makeovers at .

 

   
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

Pottery Barn DIY Bird Pillows

I have been trying to change my decor and slowly but surely it is happening. I really like the Pottery Barn look but it is quite pricey for my budget. I have a roll of white muslin I got from a tag sale years ago which I have used numerous times for different projects.  I liked the bird pillows that PB, dreamy. I decided to give them a try and  to make them myself.

I drew the birds using the catalog as a guide. First I drew it with a pencil then used acrylic craft paint to fill it in. Next, I used a permanent brown Sharpy marker to make the branches and leaves in the background.

 

I am excited about the way they came out. They definitely don't match the country plaid couch but I hope to find a different one. Maybe I can find someone to trade with me for someone to trade with me on craigslist. I just have to be patient with that one.

 

Don't forget to check out other projects at Shabby Nest, Frugal Friday.

 
 

 
 

Rolltop Reveal and Pretty Desk Blotter

I am almost finished with the desk (before picture). The paint I got was whiter than what I wanted but I actually like how it is turning out. All I have left to do is put one more coat on the part that rolls up. Towards the back  I had to hold off on painting because I couldn't close it all the way while the paint was still wet.

I ended  up making a desk blotter out of foam core and a roll of ribbon. I didn't want the desk top to get all marked up so I needed something to preserve  it. 

 

Supplies Needed:

• foam core board 20 X 30 X 3/16 (I cut off 3 1/8" along the length)
• a roll of ribbon 2.5" wide X 9 ft. long
• an sharp knife
• a cutting mat and ruler (cardboard would work for a cutting mat)
• tacky glue

I cut the foam board to the length and width that fit the desk and glued the ribbon around the edges. I did overlap the ribbon and still had enough to go all the way around with a little bit left over. The ribbon had wire in it so I didn't fold it over the edges because I did not want it to scratch the surface of the desk.

I like the way it turned out. The cost was $2.86 for the foam board at Wal- Mart and the ribbon was $2.00. So for under $5.00, I have a custom made desk blotter and when it gets dirty and funky I can always make a new and different one and my desk top will stay crisp and white, hopefully! The extra ribbon could be used around a pencil holder to coordinate the two accessories.
 

Roll With Me Baby, Painting My Roll Top Desk

  I was on a roll today. It's all starting to come together, my mini home office that is. Yesterday, I went and picked up this roll top desk for $20.00, it was a craigslist find.

 

This area has been changed so many times and because of that nothing matches. It was bugging me so when I got the desk I decided it was time to get busy on coordinating the area.

 
 I had picked up some black, white and red folders and magazine storage holders at target a couple of months ago. I really didn't care for the colors or the designs but I needed them to organize my paperwork and for $1.00 a piece I couldn't pass them up.

I finally had all of the pieces of furniture for the office the desk, the little phone table, the file cabinet( a roadside freebie), a old cabinet for a bookcase but it all looked funky because there was no continuity. 

Today, I spent most of the day painting and priming. I finished the little phone table.

Here she is all shiny and black. I had no drawer handle so I decided to use a plaid red ribbon which works great and gives it some character.

The old cabinet/ bookcase which was maroon got a coat of black paint, too. I put this white basket big up top to store some of my bulky supplies in and these cute hearts on the old lock hole for some charm. I may also hang something white on the side to break up all of that black.

 
 I got around to priming the roll top but had to stop for today.

 
I have a color called Cottage White by Behr picked out and I hope to  finish up Thursday or Friday. I will post the finished product then.

See more crafty and makeover projects at Cottege Instincts and Make It for Monday Linky Party: