Queen of the Crazies

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Front Door Jewelry

Summer is definitely here and here with a vengeance! It's been in the high 90's with a heat index of 110 or more for 10 consecutive days. Yep that's too hot for this northern girl! So, since I've basically been stuck in the house since returning from my moms I've been crafting! I needed something new for the front door so....

I bought this "lovely" picture from The Salvation Army. After dismantling it I spray painted the frame a summery teal.

Then, I cut a piece of burlap slightly larger than the picture and hot glued it directly to the old picture.

After that it was just embellishing! I painted a wooden letter "K", glued on some ric-rac and a ribbon to hang it and some pinwheels. If you want to make some of these pinwheels check out Miss Mustard Seeds tutorial, she is awesome!

Here is a shot of the entire door in all her happy summer glory. I think she really likes her new jewelry!

Linking To:

Homemaker on a Dime: http://www.homemakeronadime.com/

DIY Showoff: http://diyshowoff.com/

Uncommon http://www.uncommondesignsonline.com/

Not Just a Housewife http://www.notjustahousewife.net/

The Ironstone Nest: http://www.theironstonenest.com/

Primp: http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/

Savy Southern Style: http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

The Well Crafted Home: http://thewellcraftedhome.blogspot.com/

Shabby Creek Cottage: http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/

Somewhat Simple: http://www.somewhatsimple.com/

The 36th Avenue: http://www.the36thavenue.com/

Crafty Scrappy Happy: http://www.craftyscrappyhappy.net/

Saved By Love/Thrifty Thursdays: http://savedbylovecreations.com/

Homemaker on a Dime: http://www.homemakeronadime.com/

Nifty Thrifty Things: http://www.niftythriftythings.com/

DIY Showoff: http://diyshowoff.com/

Be Different Act Normal: http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/

Lolly Jane: http://lollyjaneboutique.blogspot.com/

Classy Clutter: http://classyclutter.blogspot.com/

Chic on a Shoestring: http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/

Fingerprints on the Fridge: http://www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com/

Whipperberry: http://whipperberry.com/

Simple Home. Life: http://www.mysimplehomelife.com/

Remodelaholic: http://www.remodelaholic.com/

Finding Fabulous: http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/

Tattertots & Jello: http://tatertotsandjello.com/

Doodles&Stitches http://www.doodlesandstitches.com/

At The Picket Fence: http://www.atthepicketfence.com/

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Vintage Stool Re-do

I've been a little MIA the last week or so because I made the 18 hour drive to my mom's in Northern Michigan to help her move from our family home into an apartment. It's been a long 2 weeks! I did, however, take some pics before I left so I would have something to share with you while I was gone!

I bought an old office chair (I guess it was an office chair, maybe a stool??) at an antique store and was on the look out for another, when I walked into the back room where I work and there was the identical chair! I couldn't believe it! My boss told me I could have it, he was going to throw it away because it was a piece of junk! Can you believe it?! Junk?! That just makes it even better!! Of course I don't have a before pic, because I'm always too excited to get started on a project and forget to take one!

But here they are all spiffed up! They started out an ugly grey with brown seats. I spray painted them "Graphite" It's hard to tell by the photo but there is a little sparkle in the paint!

After painting the chairs, I stenciled numbers on the backs. 9 is our lucky number and there are 5 of us. I used Martha Stewarts "Wedding Cake" acrylic paint.

Next, I wanted a little more padding on the seats so I cut a piece of cardboard the same size and shape as the existing seat, then covered it with a couple layers of batting. Using the glue gun (my favorite tool!) I glued the batting to the underside of the cardboard.

I found an old feed sack at a flea market and gave it the same treatment as the batting!

Then, Just glued the seat right to the chair!

Perfection!

Linking to:

Not Just a Housewife: http://www.notjustahousewife.net/

Primp: http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/

Savy Southern Style: http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

The Well Crafted Home: http://thewellcraftedhome.blogspot.com/

Uncommon: http://www.uncommondesignsonline.com/

Shabby Creek Cottage: http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/

Somewhat Simple: http://www.somewhatsimple.com/

The 36th Avenue: http://www.the36thavenue.com/

Crafty Scrappy Happy: http://www.craftyscrappyhappy.net/

Saved By Love/Thrifty Thursdays: http://savedbylovecreations.com/

Doodles and Stitches: http://www.doodlesandstitches.com/

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Because Nice Matters

Chalkboards of all shapes and sizes are EVERYWHERE! I've always loved chalkboards (I think I may have been a teacher in a former life! LOL) In one of my houses I painted the door in the mudroom with chalkboard paint and then when we moved in here I painted a large wall in our kitchen with it. Love it! I'd show it to you, but it's a mess of scribbled notes (as always!) But, I will show you a small chalkboard I recently made!

Let's start from the beginning shall we?!

I found this frame at the Salvation Army for $3.99! Perfect for what I had planned! An ornate frame and a wide mat.

First off, paint the frame. I spray painted it with Leafy
Green, then sanded some spots and rubbed stain over the whole thing.

Next: rip a bunch of pages out of an old book. Then modge podge them all over the mat, going in different directions, overlapping and folding over the edges. Coat the whole thing with a couple coats of modge podge.

After it's all dry, run an ink pad along the edges to "age" the mat a little.

Next, cut a piece of thin (1/4 inch) plywood to fit the back of the frame. Paint it with chalkboard paint. I do at least 3 coats. When that's all dry, reassemble your frame, minus the glass.

Once it's all assembled, write an inspiring message on it and put it on some shelves your husband put up for you!

Linking To:

Uncommon http://www.uncommondesignsonline.com/

Not Just a Housewife http://www.notjustahousewife.net/

Primp: http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/

Savy Southern Style: http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

The Well Crafted Home: http://thewellcraftedhome.blogspot.com/

Shabby Creek Cottage: http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/

Somewhat Simple: http://www.somewhatsimple.com/

The 36th Avenue: http://www.the36thavenue.com/

Crafty Scrappy Happy: http://www.craftyscrappyhappy.net/

Saved By Love/Thrifty Thursdays: http://savedbylovecreations.com/

House of Hepworths http://www.houseofhepworths.com/

Chic on a Shoestring: http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/

Fingerprints on the Fridge: http://www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com/ Whipperberry:http://whipperberry.com/

Simple Home. Life: http://www.mysimplehomelife.com/

Remodelaholic: http://www.remodelaholic.com/

Finding Fabulous: http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/

Tattertots & Jello: http://tatertotsandjello.com/

Doodles&Stitcheshttp://www.doodlesandstitches.com/

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Where Our Hearts Never Leave

Thanks so much for all the lovely comments on my gallery wall! As promised here is the tutorial for the "Home" wall art. It's really very simple.

You will need a piece of plywood (not MDF, you need to see the grain), sticker letters (I used 2 different sized fonts) stain, rubber gloves, clean cloth, white spray paint, sandpaper (I used a palm sander, 'cause I'm lazy)

1. Cut your wood, mine is about 8X10
2. Stain your wood. Use the rubber gloves and a clean cloth, get it good and covered, nice and dark.
3. Let it dry completely- this is very hard for me, I'm extremely impatient!
4. Lay out your sticker letters. Obviously you can use any quote you like, but I used:

"Where we love is HOME, HOME that our feet may leave but not our HEARTS"

Be sure the letters are stuck down nice and tight, you don't want any of the spray paint leaking under!

5. Spray white spray paint in light even coats over the entire surface. Spray from the top, not sideways to lessen the chance of paint getting under the sticker letters.

6. Carefully peel off the sticker letters. As soon as you are done spraying. Don't wait and do a second coat, just spray one good coat and peel the letters off immediately or they will stick forever! I used a pin to pull up one corner so as not to smudge the paint.

7. Let it dry completely! After it's completely dry, rough it up with sandpaper around the edges and in a few meaningful places.
8. Attach a hanger on the back and hang up your really cool wall art!

Linking to:

House of Hepworths; http://www.houseofhepworths.com/
Chic on a Shoestring: http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/
Fingerprints on the Fridge: http://www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com/
Whipperberry: http://whipperberry.com/
Simple Home. Life: http://www.mysimplehomelife.com/
Remodelaholic: http://www.remodelaholic.com/
Finding Fabulous: http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/
Freckled Laundry: http://www.freckledlaundry.com/
Tattertots & Jello: http://tatertotsandjello.com/
Doodles&Stitches http://www.doodlesandstitches.com/

Monday, May 21, 2012

A Wall with a Purpose

I had this blank wall at the top of my stairs that was begging for something. Then I saw this gallery wall and I was inspired!

This wall is right at the top of the stairs. To the right is one boys room straight ahead is the master bedroom. To the left and behind are the rest of the bedrooms, laundry room and bathroom.
I wanted this wall to depict home. And my home IS my boys. The photos were taken when they were itty bitty (they are now 20,17, and 11)

Awww weren't they sweet?!

This is how I hang ALL my pictures, whether they are in a gallery formation or singularly. It's soooo much easier and I get the nail in the right place every time. Here's what you do:
1. trace your picture on newspaper and cut out
2. punch a hole in the newspaper where the nail should go.
3. use painters tape to arrange your "pictures" on the wall. This way you can move them around as much as you like and get them exactly where you want them!
4. hammer a nail right through the newspaper where you marked it!

See the nail right through the newspaper? Guaranteed to be exactly right!

Here are a few of the things other than photos on the wall. I'm sure you've all seen this You Are My Sunshine wall art by A.K.A Design. I fell in love with it immediately! She has an awesome tutorial on how to make one of your own. The only differences between hers and mine are colors obviously, mine is much smaller, and I rubbed stain all over mine, whereas she used an ink pad.

I have been wanting to use this quote somewhere for quite awhile! I just love it! It's kind of hard to tell in these photos, but the words are wood grain. I will have a tutorial for this up by next Monday, so come on back!

"Owl always love you" This was a super easy little picture. I just cut burlap to fit an old frame, stamped some cute little owls on it then used some sticker letters from my scrap booking stash.

I'd love to say I made this, but alas I do not have the program on my computer to make all the cool subway art that everyone is making! I do have an idea for something like this tho, stay tuned!

Now that wall at the top of the stairs has a purpose. All is happy!

Linking to :

Skip to my Lou: http://www.skiptomylou.org/

Uncommon http://www.uncommondesignsonline.com/

Not Just a Housewife http://www.notjustahousewife.net/

Primp: http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/

Savy Southern Style: http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

The Well Crafted Home: http://thewellcraftedhome.blogspot.com/

Shabby Creek Cottage: http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/

Somewhat Simple: http://www.somewhatsimple.com/

The 36th Avenue: http://www.the36thavenue.com/

Crafty Scrappy Happy: http://www.craftyscrappyhappy.net/

Under The Table & Dreaming: http://www.bystephanielynn.com/

Saved By Love/Thrifty Thursdays: http://savedbylovecreations.com/

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Featured at Uncommon!

Another feature for the DIY Marquee Sign! Unbelieveable! Please please please check out Uncommon. They have so much going on over there, inspiration, linky parties, giveaways- it's nuts! Thank you Bonnie & Trish!

Fluffing, Primping&Re-Arranging

I finally got all the Easter/Spring decorations put away this weekend and changed some things up! I don't really have anything specific for summer, so I just kind of pull stuff from around the house to make little vignettes.

My mantle is still a little "springy", but it will morph a bit as the 4th of July comes

We've been collecting hardcover books from The Salvation Army lately. The small brown one above is a book of poems by Longfellow circa 1883. I was pretty excited when I stumbled on that in the big bin of books!

In the corner next to the mantle I have this little farm table. Under it is an old crate with a couple pillows I made and a "frenchy" towel.

My plants are in an old bushel basket and a new bucket. I whitewashed the outside of the bucket to give it a little age. I would like to say putting these labels from the Graphics Fairy was totally my idea, but it was the brain child of Janet from the Decorating Diaries If you would like to how we did it please jump over to the Decorating Diaries, she has a quick and easy tutorial.

Lastly, the dining room table is still a work in progress. I have my apothecary jars filled with misc. neutral items. One has some of my grandmas buttons, another some shredded book pages and the largest one has some DIY typography spheres.

Basically those are just ping pong balls with either sticker or rub-on letters, numbers and punctuation. I would recommend using rub-ons if you make some of those, the stickers are not staying on very well!