Updated White Board

I had this old white board that I never hung in my house, it just didn't seem to fit in.  Yesterday it hit me it just needs a new paint job and a new picture.  I sat at the computer cruising The Graphics Fairy and printed out 3 different images.  I modge podged them to a piece of cardboard and put them together when they dried.  Here is a link to the image of the bird in the envelope.
http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/2011/02/vintage-clip-art-sweet-bird-with-nest.html

Now the white board will fit into my decor after my after the holiday make over I am planning.

Pieces Parts

I made another treasure box last week.  I found some things in my stash that were just sitting there begging to be used.  When it is time for something in my treasure trove to be used it is as if that is all I can think about, getting them putting them together and painting them up.  I used some graphics from The Graphics Fairy and applied them to the painted pieces using the wax paper method.  I printed the image on wax paper and then placed it on the box ink side down and rubbed it gently with a rubber spatula until it was set.  I coated the images with polyethylene, sanded it lightly to remove some paint and then glazed it.  The knob was on the door when I got it and so ornate that I left it but added a handle to the front to open the box with. This treasure box will make a great place to store sewing stuff or magazines.  I took it to the shop today, hope it finds the person it was destined to be with.

Half As Much

The glass is always half full as far as a I am concerned.  Times are tough but we continue to have shelter and food.  The love we experience makes us rich beyond measure.  I don't mind not being well off financially I have never experienced total freedom in that department. I know for sure that it has made me the person I am today one that takes nothing for granted and throws nothing away (my favorite part)!  I found a table last week that was half of a table that had been fashioned into a accent table.  When I found it the top was Formica and it was in dire need of some love and attention......da da da da!  That's what I am here for, to give second chances to the unwanted! Yeah.

I peeled the Formica top off and gave it a new top that made it looked grooved like old fashion tongue and groove. Then I painted the entire piece with primer then black.  The top I painted off white over a coat of crackle finish.  I stenciled a small design on the top for accent and glazed the top with dark brown. I am glad for the opportunity to paint this table and I can picture it in someones home topped with their special treasures.

For the Birds

Been busy this last week getting ready for Thanksgiving at my house, waiting for a batch of rolls right now to come out of the oven. Thought I would take the time to post my projects from this week. I found this cabinet at a sale last summer and have been dreaming about it ever since.  I loved the fact that the drawers were metal on the inside and had wood fronts.  I like the handles too they are unique, but the best part was that I got it for only 10.00 loaded and all.  I certainly love cupboards and want to keep every one that I paint but this one thank goodness is safely tucked away at the Peddler's Market already.  I had to get it out of my house so I wouldn't "accidentally" start to put things inside it. Good thing the 5 second rule doesn't apply to found treasures....

I painted this piece with some special mix teal paint that I mixed and the contrast is a grayish white I mixed also. I usually mix my own colors to get them just right.  I painted the cupboard with a dark brown glaze and gave it a poly top coat finish.  I no sooner got it in the shop and a lady wanted to buy it.  She was with her husband and gave me the high sign that she would come back later to get it later.  That always means in "lady" talk I will buy it when my husband isn't with me.  I wonder how she will do the sneak it in the house and pretend like it has been there for the last 2 months I can't believe you didn't notice routine?  She is a very nice lady so I hope it works out for her, I would love for her to have the cupboard she would love it as I do!

Christmas is Coming

It won't be long and Christmas will be here again! I can't believe that it is almost Thanksgiving, along with the holiday I turn another year older and well we won't go into that....

I always wanted an advent calendar to count down the days until Christmas and just never found the right one and then one day it came to me! I was rummaging through my things and even considering getting rid of some that I just couldn't seem to salvage.  I saw a broken old sled leaning on the back of the house and knew my husband was probably really sick of seeing it there. I had it for over a year and didn't touch it so it was time to make a decision keep it safe in my clutter or toss it out. Then it hit me I can do this I can make this sled into something I don't have to waste a perfectly good primitive. The sled was all busted up, the slats on the top were toast and needed some love. So I did what every self respecting junker does and went to my stash to hunt for some parts. I found a narrow door and knew that it would fit perfectly into the space on the top and I loved the latch that was on the door it would certainly add character to the sled. I really had to work at it I had to drill out some fasteners and re-drill the door, it took me quite a while but I just knew it would be worth it.
I painted the whole thing olde white and glazed it with an antique brown.  Next I mixed up some black chalk paint and painted the 2 panels so that I could write on them with chalk.  Count down to Christmas I just may enjoy you this year!

It's A Wrap!

My husband is going to perform a wedding this afternoon here in Michigan. He will join 2 younguns that we have known since they were just kids.  It is a sunny cool Michigan day here and the wedding is going to be held in a corn crib just our style out here in the country. The girls are wearing strapless gowns, we here in the upper country live large and embrace the cold weather as best we can. I can hardly wait to see the farm where the wedding will take place, rehearsal is in 2 hours! As our gift to them my husband said he would not think of charging them to do the ceremony but that didn't seem like enough.  So I put together some of the spiffiest red neck wine glasses ever- milk glass and blue jars with blue and clear glass globs.  They are fabulous and to go with them a nice blue bottle of my favorite "Boone's Farm" .  A country wedding is always the best, I just proof read the vows that my husband is going to use for the couple and I wish I was was the one getting married they brought tears to my eyes they are so sweet.  I wish this young couple all the joy and happiness in the world and am so excited that my husband and I could be a part of their precious day.

I found a great old shoe box and wrapped it in some great wedding and Paris paper.   I hot glued some blue trim and with lace flowers to the top and immersed the inside with yards and yards of tulle. I think it is awesome and I hope the kids like it.  Something old the lace and jars, something blue the jars and trim, something borrowed - stuff from my personal stash to make it all, and yes, I will find a penny and put it in the box too!

Play

I have so many things that people give to me because they know I don't throw anything away, I just "do something" with it.  I have had this croquet mallet for about 3 years now and thing to myself that it would be the one thing I would throw away to make room for something with more potential.  Then one night while trying to get to sleep it came to me. Make a sign out of it.  It has character and I had just obtained a number of door fronts that make excellent signs.  I decided that the back round had to be Kelly green with black trim and antique white edging.  I think it would be great in a game room or bar and has enough personality to keep it off the cast off pile. Just in the nick of time for that old mallet!