Thursday, January 31, 2013

Party Ready...DIY

I am going to start this post oddly.
NOT ONE OF THE PHOTOS USED IN THIS POST
HAVE BEEN PHOTOSHOPPED OR CHANGED
IN ANY WAY.
This will be important if you choose to read all the way to then end of this DIY adventure.
 
Making "stained" glass jars is nothing new.
But I put my own twist on mine.
I am planning a large party which will not happen for
a few months, but I do not want to wait till
the last minute and stress, so I am starting
early and hope to use the jars more than one time.
 
Making clear glass jars colorful.
1. Choose jars which you will no longer be using.
 
2. Set your oven for the lowest temp you can use.
Mine is 170
 
3. Mix up your colors out of mod podge, food color,
and a few drops of water. I mixed in small disposable cups.
 
3. Coat the OUTSIDE of the jars evenly with the mixture...this is important if you plan to use
the jars for vases, or any reason that they
would need to have water in them, which I do.
 
4. Place them upside down on a lined bake sheet.
I put mine on skewers so they would not stick to the foil.
(the above photo is taken through the window of my oven.
5. Place them in the oven for approximately 20 minutes. (They will not be completley dry, but enough to touch without leaving finger prints.)


You will see that the jars clear and look simply lovely!
 
NOW, this is where I departed from the norm
and put my personal spin on them!
I built a couple of "tri-pods" to put the rings
of the jars on to enable me to paint them.
Yes, that is what I said.....paint them!!

I chose colors that matched the jar colors and I think it tops the jars with a much lovelier finish.
 

 
 

 Here they are with the inspiration that pushed me in the direction of the colors that I choose.
 
Join me please in a sigh of prettiness.
 
S.I.G.H. Filled with white flowers....oh yeah!
 
Yep, I like it. I like it alot!
 
And now you know why I put the disclaimer at the top of this post...the brilliant colors are real, not touched up by any photoshopping or changing of the pictures at all.


Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Twinkle, Twinkle

I love shine and sparkle, that is nothing new.
But what is new are the lovely knobs that I bought
while in the frozen tundra!
Remember these?
 
Ohhhhh Laaaa Laaa!
The clear ones were intended for the antique
dresser that we used as a tv stand for the last
couple of years. I LOVE that piece.
But with simple wooden knobs, I always knew
that I wanted to add a bit of "bling" to it.
Since progress had been made on the built-ins
the dresser was moved to it's new desirable
place of honor in our living room.
And the something new was added to the something old!
Yes, oh yes.


 
THEN, I needed to 'dress up' the dresser.
Now, we have not put the base boards back on,
so that will change, but I am completely
satisfied with the dresser itself.
I used what
I already have to put the finishing touches
on my beauty and as I sit here in my big
comfy chair typing this, I peek up at the
dresser and see the reflection of the fireplace
twinkling in the lamp and several of the knobs.
Ahhhhh, such a lovely view!

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

We Have Progress!

We are making progress on the built-ins that
we are creating in our living room.
We bought pre-made cabinets for the base
of the built-ins.
These are un-finished oak UPPER cabinets
that would normally be used in a kitchen.
Each side of the fireplace has 2 cabinets.
A double and a single, which are differing sizes
as our fireplace is not symmetrical to the room.
And if you recall, I am NOT a symmetrical girl!
So having an off center fireplace is quite all right with me!
I put two coats of no VOC Zinnser primer on
the cabinets followed by 2 coats of cabinet
and trim paint. (Dutch Boy is my choice)
 After drying, my husband leveled, installed,
and added the necessary fill strips to each side
as there was an extra 1 1/2 inches on the right side
and 3 inches on the left side.
Which is very normal, as it is almost impossible to have
the standard width of an off the shelf cabinet
fill your area perfectly. And they sell fill strips
for just that purpose!
After the cabinets were given cut outs to expose
our outlets, tv cable was run and doors
were put on, the top "shelve" was installed.
This is a solid 14 inch wide piece of solid wood
which was ripped down from a 16 inch piece.
We were full of saw dust to say the least.
But we work together really well, so a bit
of saw dust is kinda fun when progress is made!
This is were progress ended for the time being
as the wood that we purchased for the shelving
part of the built-ins decided to bow and had
to be returned. Boo.
So, tomorrow my hubby will visit a different
lumber yard and see what can be found
that will make this task easier, lovelier
and without twists and turns.


Friday, January 25, 2013

It Is Beginning

We are starting the process of the built ins.
This is the fireplace wall in which
we have already pulled furniture away from.
 
 
Maybe we should keep it minimalist?
Nope.
 
These are the bottom cabinets that will be
the lower part of the built ins.
My husband and I have primed them and
we are ready to install...but I think I may put
a coat of paint on them first so that
once they are installed it will only be touch ups
that will be needed.
Next we will build the shelving,
 remove the current mantle
(we are planning a new one made of re-claimed wood)
and crown molding will top it all off.
Updates will be forth coming.
I hope quickly, but with life happening,
it may not happen as quickly as I would want.
Which was last week.
But patience is NOT one of my gifts!

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Treasures & Projects

I bought a few things while up in the frozen tundra.
This bargain will become something completely
different than the intent of the manufacturer.
What will it be you ask?
Well I ain't sayin! Just yet anyway.
But look at the price I got it for!!!!!
Saaawweettt!!!
 
And I just could not pass up this lamp.
Shinny, crackled, lovely.
And 1/3 of the original price.
Can you tell I am a bargain shopper?
 
OH! And The most prized bargain I brought home?
These beauties.

 
Ahhhhhhhhhh, They just make me sigh.
I intend to use the clear glass knobs on an antique dresser
that I currently use as a tv stand
and also the mercury glass ones on the new built-ins we are getting
ready to build, but more on that later.
 
What projects do you have in mind?

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Done and Doing

I have been away for a few days.
3 to be exact.
A Mother / Daughter long weekend spent
in the frozen tundra (Green Bay WI)
and boy oh boy oh boy was it frozen!
-1 with a wind chill of 30 below zero!
I ran alot. There was a definite need to get
from point a to point b in the fastest way possible!
I had a blast. I bought some really amazing things.
All things purchased were at least 50% off
if not much more.
I will show you the amazing finds in the next few days.
 
And in the "doing" department, my husband
and I have begun the job of building "built ins"
to flank both sides of our fireplace.
Yes, that is correct.
Yes, I am more than excited.
Yes, I want them done yesterday!
patience is NOT my best gift.
ahem.
 
And last, but not by any means least
we had a party at our house (shocking I know)
the Sunday before I left on our trip.
My Father In Law had a birthday and
got the most amazing hat brought
back from New Orleans, bought in a
Harley shop in the French Quarter.
Did you guess that we bought it for him
NO? Well we did and it was so amazing!
 So amazing in fact that shortly after my FIL
recived his hat...he treated us to a light show!
Yes He Did!
Well, he started a basket filled with candy
on fire, in the middle of the dinning room table.
That counts as a light show right?
Here is the smoky after math....
 
 
 
I would have gotten the light show on film
but I was too busy doubling over with laughter.
A perfectly normal response to fire in one's home
I am sure.
My FIL is fine, and it will be a very memorable
party for him for sure!
I am so grateful that I have in-laws that I can
laugh with and hug and make lots of fun
foods for! I am blessed!

Friday, January 18, 2013

Children

We have 3 children.
2 from birth
one a total gift from God.
Blessed is all I can think to say.
 
But today I focus on one child in particular.
Our son. Evan. It is his birthday today!
He was due on Christmas. He has always been our
laid back child. Not in a hurry to come into this world. Funny thing tho, he NEVER been late for anything
since he has been born!! Ironic.
 
 
We raised our children in the church to love
God with all their hearts, serve Him and share
Him with others.
Our son still serves in his church playing music and
singing. (we all do this, musical family for sure)
But the coolest thing....he now is raising his children, with the help of his beautiful wife, to do the same thing.
 
We, as parents, have been praised openly by strangers for how amazing our children are as adults.
 
Our son is no exception. The people he works with and those at his church feel that he is just plain special. Mommy pride abounds here, but I and my husband give all glory and praise to God for the way in which our son has grown into a man of God.
 
So today, I celebrate (with a few tears, not going to lie!) that our son is celebrating his birthday with his wife and children 1000 miles from us.
I love this boy errrr man that God has given us.
 

Happy Birthday Son!!!

Thursday, January 17, 2013

The View From Here

The view from our living room window that is.
We have this poor tree at the base
of our bank, almost on the bottom land
that goes to the river's edge which
is our back yard.
The tree has been broken off by storms
and has become the perfect perch for
the bald eagles that we watch
swoop, play and dive in our yard.
 


Wednesday, January 16, 2013

A Day....

 It is a cold day today.
It is a sunny day today.
It is a day that is without luster.
So, I need some color to make it a brilliant day.
Just a few photos to brighten my day
and hopefully yours too!
 
 
 
photo from pinterest
 
photo from pinterest
 




Tuesday, January 15, 2013

A Tisket A Tasket.....

A green and yellow basket.
Or not.
Do you have a spot in your basement
a spot deep in the corners
where you stash things
some nice things
that you just won't, can't, don't use any longer?
But you you just cannot bear to give away?
Yeah, so do I.
 
    Last night I dug out a basket.
A large basket that is laundry sized.
Just not a color I or anyone in my family would
use in their home.
Soooo, I decided to change that.
Bring that basket back to life!
 
 
I mixed my own custom color with
paint that I already used on my amazing chairs.
 
Got a c.h.e.a.p.o. paint brush since
I knew it would get abused painting a basket
and to work I went!
This took about and hour and a half to complete.
I worked from the inside out, being very
careful to to brush out runs that could in
no way be avoided, as a basket needs
LOTS of coaxing to get in all the nooks and crannies.
But, it was all worth it!
 
Could I have sprayed it? Yes.
But I wanted a very certain color so
I knew I would be brushing.
If you are a Fibromyalgia person
be prepared for some discomfort.
But again...soooooooooooooo worth it!