I have not forgetten

Forgive me for not posting in such a long time but for the past two months I have been going non stop!! Too many family obligations and way to much studying for my Real Estate license going on. And that leaves little time for the fun stuff, like being creative and blogging about it. But I am trying to be better. I do have a few small projects that I squeezed in and will post this week. And I am trying to redo my whole craft/sewing room. That I will blog about as I go. I had to move 3 different rooms around, to get the room I wanted in my house. Alot of work and I realized that I have an excess of things, so I need to have a yard sale! Which I don't like doing--I only like going to yard sales!! I promise I will post my projects this week-- Have a good one! :)

A place to hang

While at my local goodwill with my friend Miss J, I found 3 wrought iron star hooks. For a 1.50 a piece. I have seen the same ones at a local decor store for a lot more so I knew they were a good deal. I wanted to make a place to hang coats and backpacks or something like that for my Mr R.

In my garage I found a piece of MDF molding we used in our house that I thought would be perfect.

In comes some red spray paint--


Now I had two different red cans of spray paint, so I just used them both to get a different kind of red. It worked out really well and I love the color.

Of course it have to get some stain on the edges to get that finished look I like, and it looks SO good. Funny what a little bit of stain can do to a project. :)



Next I drilled some holes so I can hang this up with some heavy duty screws, because I know this thing will be HEAVY by the time I glue on the hooks--

Mix some Gorilla Epoxy-
Slap some on the back of the hooks--
And TADA!

Now I just need to get some good strong screws to hang it.

Holiday Blocks

Last fall I went to Bunco, and there was the cutest prize that you could win. 4 little blocks of wood that said FALL on them. Sad to report that I did not win those cute little blocks. But I knew that I could make my own and make them even better. :)

Here is what I came up with-

So they say SPOOKY instead of FALL, but I like that word better. It sounds fun. And of course if I am going to go to all the effort of doing a project that is going to hang around my house, then it has to be multi functional. So, I did this on the back of the block--

I did these with a few friends and since then I have had a lot of people wanting to do them as well, so I have been lucky to have alot of vinyl orders. My neighbor did some of these for her kid's teachers as gifts for Christmas. (They turned out SO cute!)
So now we come to the current holiday season and I knew I wanted some for Valentines/St.Patrick's Day. Here is my first attempt.
Wasn't so sure if I loved them or not. So I decided to make another set. My friend wanted to make some too, so a few Sundays ago we got together and made some. Its so easy. The hardest part for me was picking out the paper!! Here's how to do it--

First ,I got a 1x6 from Home Depot. (for around $2.50) and cut the board into 8 inch pieces. I painted mine black, but you can paint them whatever color you like. With my Spooky/Autumn blocks I painted one side black and the other tan.

I like to layer things to add depth, so I cut some card stock a bit smaller than my block so you can see the black. I used Mod Podge on the block and smoothed my card stock on it and hoped for no bubbles.
Then I cut my paper a bit smaller than the card stock and glued in on with Mod Podge too. Smooth out those air bubbles-
Here's what it should look like when you done-

And the back for St.Patrick's Day- (must be multi functional!!)

With the vinyl lettering that I cut about 6 inches tall and about 4 1/2 inches wide-
I did add some tacks to the edges of my LUCKY blocks to give it more of a rustic feel.
I added a lot more embellishments to my other blocks, but I just haven't found any that I like to put on these. I need to find me some glitter heart stickers. Glitter makes me happy!

I have to point out that I did make some of my SPOOKY/AUTUMN blocks for my mom out of a 2x4 and they turned out just as cute. (I wish I had a picture to show you but she lives 500 miles away from me.) So you can make these in any size and they would be adorable! If you don't have access to a vinyl cutter you can use a cricut or such to cut out the letters you need. Or you can stencil them on.

I am linking to
http://www.shanty2chic.blogspot.com/

1-2-3-4 My Laundry Room

My almost 4 year old, is forever putting his dark laundry in my white laundry basket, even if I tell him-"Put it in the first one!!" But alas, he still gets it wrong. So I had an idea. Since Mr. R is enjoying learning his letters and numbers in preparation for preschool this fall, I decided to number each basket.


I started out with a package of coasters that I bought from Michaels for $1.00.


They came six to a package. But I only needed four. Of course I will save the rest for another project down the road. I'm not a huge fan of the design that was on these coasters, so I had to spray paint over them. Love me a good can of spray paint!!


I cut out some circles and the numbers 1-4 with my vinyl cutter, and slapped them on.


Here is my laundry baskets that I bought at Ikea a while back when they first opened here in Utah. I am SO happy that Ikea is finally close to me! I have been in love with Ikea ever since we went to one in Canada four years ago. I've even had them send me the catalog every year since then just so I could look at it and drool.
BEFORE/AFTER




I used some twine that I bought at the dollar store to tie them on. I think they look awesome. It makes me feel organized. Ans we all know that laundry needs to be organized. And I have to tell you that Mr. R did put his dirty clothes in the right laundry basket. :)

My surprise project --Part 2

Here is an update on what I am working on. Still not quite finished I am sorry to say. But here are some photos to show you what I have been doing. If you missed my first mysterious post you can check it out here-- http://imagineitforless.blogspot.com/2010/01/im-trying-to-imagine-it-for-less-but.html

First--
(Please ignore my wood scraps in the garbage can)

I spray painted the circle I cut out, black. After I realized that it was FLAT black and not GLOSS black! ARG!! So on went clear coat to gloss things up a little.

Next--
I stained the inside circle that I cut out of the above board. A couple different times, with a couple different colors of stain. Finally I got the color I was looking for. With some help from Mr.R.
Nice color huh? I like it. And it was what I was looking for. Yea me!

You remember this little silver tray, don't ya?

All it needed was a bunch of stain of a few different colors to get what I needed. Sorry I couldn't get a good picture of what it looks like after all the layers of stain. Oh! Did I mention that I picked up this tray at the dollar store? Yeah baby-The wedding section my friends. And I have a great idea for another tray I picked up there, that I will post ASAP!! You will love it. Promise. Its so easy too. Moving on--
Am I giving too much away? Do you have an idea what I am trying to create?

I added some silver leafing to the edges. And of course some more stain on top of that. And here is what it looks like now--

So this is as far as I have gotten. Hopefully in the next week I will be able to finish it and then I will show you my inspiration photo and you can tell me how close I got to that.
I also have some fun projects that I am working one, so stay tuned for those!!

MMMMMMM Holiday Candy....

I love holiday candy. Cinnamon and candy hearts in February, Cadbury Robin's Egg and black jelly beans at Easter time, candy corn and pumpkins in October and of course, candy canes at Christmas. After Christmas, I found 5 bags of red and green M&Ms on clearance for under a dollar-each! Get in my cart M&Ms!! I knew this would be a cheap way to have candy for the next few holidays. Besides, I love to throw some on my popcorn. Mmm :) So tonight I broke open the bags and divided the two colors. Red for Valentines day and green for St. Patrick's day. It took forever and I have decided that the M&M company hates to share the red ones. There were barely any red in those bags.
This is 3 bags of M&Ms. Why do you put in so little red, M&M company? They need love too. As you can see, I put some of the red candies in my cute little glass jar I found at my thrift store for a buck. Nice huh? And then I put it next to my other glass jars full of my holiday candy and Voila! Cute candy sitting on my counter. Now if I can just keep my family from eating it. This is art here, not munchies.

My Fridge Frame Update

After much debate on what to do to my frame, I have finally finished. And it turned out great!! You're gonna love it as much as I do. :) I am really happy with how it turned out.
It took me forever to decide on a color. I was thinking red and so were the my friends who left comments. But, No to that idea. (thanks guys-it makes me feel special to get some feedback!) My dear husband, -who tries to avoid me when I am decorating at the fear I may get him involved in some way- told me I should paint it green because our house is full of that lovely color. No to that idea. So as I stood in my kitchen, I saw that the basket on my fridge was brown with a light liner. And then I noticed that my rug had the same color in it too! So that led to my color choice. Spray painted it with Heirloom White. Love that color. I was happy with the way it turned out, but one of the reasons why I loved this frame from the beginning, was because of the detail work. So naturally I chose to highlight that detail work with some stain. I took a sponge brush a dipped just the end of the brush in the stain and dragged it across the details ever so lightly. I had to respray paint a couple of times, but it all worked out. What do you think??

How did I hang it to my fridge you ask? Well I must say I was thinking magnets at first. Only because it is a fridge, and you can use magnets on a fridge, but I knew that with all of the opening and closing that the fridge goes through I knew I needed something stronger to hold it up. Hello 3M command hooks!













I got the smallest ones I could find and placed them in line with the thingys on back of my frame that I would be hanging them on.
It seems to be holding, But I do need to put a magnet on the bottom back because it does move back and forth a little too much.
And now for the whole reason why I wanted to do this--


I'm thinking about doing a quote of the day on my blog. I figure everyone needs a little something to think about each day. So as soon as I figure how to do it and have it look good, I will do it. Thanks guys for looking!

I am going to try and link this to http://www.reinventedkb.com/

I'm trying to imagine it for less--but its a surprise!

Here is what I am working on now- when I can find the time!! But I am so excited about it! So here is your peek--

I know it doesn't seem like much now, but if all goes well, it will be something fabulous! I hope to finish it by the end of the week.

My weekly calendar for my family

I though I would share with all of you how I keep my family's different schedules in order.

First off, I went down to "Wally-World" and got this dry-erase/magnetic board for $5.oo.

Then since I have my own vinyl cutter, I just cut out the days of the week and placed them on there. I only did Monday- Friday because we don't have much going on during the weekends. But there are times when I had the whole week on here. But I like the amount of room that each day has.

I use wet/dry erase markers on my board so that I don't lose any information very easily.



I give each of my kids a different color so I know at a glance who has what going on. Blue for Miss A, Green for Mr T, and Red for Miss V. I will need another color when Mr R gets older. I use black for all of my things that I have and anything else going on. It helps everyone else to know what's planned for the week as well.

I used some double-sided sticky tape and put it up in my kitchen so all would see it. Its been up for about 3 years and I use it every week. Change it every Sunday and I have even added who has what chores on the bottom so no one gets confused who's week it is to load the dishwasher.

I am on a roll--Project #2 and Blog #2--all in one day

I am feeling good. It must be the New Year of feeling like to need to get stuff done and clean stuff out. So here for you is my project #2 that I am working on-

Meet my Fridge--

(Please ignore my kid's papers on the side.)

Here is my plan for my fridge.

I have always wanted to have a place in my house for me to write a quote of the day on. Someplace where all my family could see it. I have kids upstairs and in the basement so it had to be in a spot where everyone could read it sometime during the day. So hello fridge space. I hate clutter on the front of my fridge, but I can live with my frame on the front.

Meet my new frame.

I love this frame for two reasons.

#1--It was .50 cents at my favorite thrift store

#2--it's got some great detail work

#3--its plastic==lightweight

So I lied.

I have 3 reasons.

Here is the picture that came in the frame. That I am spray painting with chalkboard spray paint, since I had a can of it in my garage.

So now the question for you--

What color do I paint the frame?

Black? or is that too much black.

Red with stain to make it a little bit darker?

I have no idea.

I am open to all suggestions, so advise away my friends.

When it finally makes it to the fridge, I will post photos. So you all can check out my new quote board.

$$$-The cost part-$$$

Frame-.50

paint-already owned= free

So far pretty cheap! And I love cheap!

Whatcha think?? Yea or Nay--

My very first post to my blog--Yea for me!

Don't judge me, but yes I did hang a HUGE Christmas wreath in my basement. (And when I say huge I mean like as tall as my 4 year old.) I found it at my local thrift store for $5.00!! I could not leave this baby in the store for someone else to snag up. I brought it home around christmas time and was very excited to show my husband. Lets just say he wasn't as excited as I was. He had different plans for it. Like to go and hang it on our neighbors door so when they opened their door--BAM!! Big wreath in their face. Ummm--No Thanks. A little funny and maybe a good back-up plan if I cant think of anything else. Moving on---

I have this empty space on the wall behind my couch and I thought it would be a perfect spot. So up went the wreath.

But it needs something in the middle. What?

How about a white shelf I have had laying around, taking up space. And throw some stain on it.

Now spray paint some stars the were taking up space. Throw some stain on them too.

And this is what I ended up with. The wall color is different but only because I took the two pictures at different times of the day. And basement lighting is no good for picture taking.

So is it too Christmasy? Maybe a little, but I kinda like it. I think its growing on me. Or I guess the wreath could be growing. It is a pretty big wreath.
Here is a close up of the shelf and stars.

Tell me what you think.

$$$-The cost part-$$$

Wreath--$5.00

Shelf--free

Stars--$2.00 at a yard sale this past summer

paint & stain--already had in garage=free

So total cost was $7.00