tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15320523349452052752024-03-13T04:06:34.605-07:00head above waterKansas City wedding, events, and lifestyle photographer, Lori shares tips and stories on motherhood, home and design.Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11429471987177027913noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1532052334945205275.post-47635442057550466772012-05-16T09:39:00.003-07:002012-05-16T09:40:45.852-07:00Teacher's giftsI'M BAAAAACK! (Sorta). Whew, all of that painting must have taken it out of me! I have not felt like redoing anything in my house after that! My makeover efforts have been spent on myself rather than my house. I have been on a kick to get healthier and more fit and it has taken a lot of my time.<br />
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But I thought I would drop in today and share the teachers gifts I created for my older son's preschool teachers. I am in shock that I have finished registering him for Kindergarten next year! We went to his preschool graduation last night. It was completely adorable! They had the kiddos in little caps and gowns and everything!<br />
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I have been so blown away by the changes in him over this past year. He has always been our clingier child and we have watched him blossom into a little social butterfly with play dates practically every other week! His teachers have done such an amazing job at preparing him for this next step in life and I am so grateful to them for all they have taught him!<br />
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I put these little packages together with items from my all time favorite store.... TARGET! Seriously is there anything that place doesn't have???<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1xdoQi8seJ0/T7PT8tL2_4I/AAAAAAAABHQ/00TRJUFSu8k/s1600/teachergift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1xdoQi8seJ0/T7PT8tL2_4I/AAAAAAAABHQ/00TRJUFSu8k/s400/teachergift.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I started with a little plastic tray they had in the kitchen organization aisle. I thought it would double as a great desk top organizer later. I added a candle, (Because who doesn't love a great smelling candle???) some pretty desk top post it type papers from the Privet House collection and some pretty spiral bound notepads. I also had my son color one of those little blank men as kind of a self portrait because I love to include something a little personal from him for the teachers to remember him by! And, lastly, because I don't think teachers are paid well enough for their efforts I threw in a small Target gift card so that they can treat themselves just a little! The note reads: "Thanks for all you've done! Because of you I am right on <b>Target </b>for kindergarten next year." Yes, it includes a play off words for the Target gift card! I'm just nerdy that way and couldn't resist!<br />
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I always struggle with ideas for things like Teachers' gifts. I would love to know what kinds of things you all do for gifts!</div>
<br />Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11429471987177027913noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1532052334945205275.post-7536496471478049082012-02-24T15:29:00.001-08:002012-02-24T15:32:58.855-08:00DVD cases recovered<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kum585H62Sg/T0gV7rf3EGI/AAAAAAAABGI/CdkeGSVeAu8/s1600/dvdcases2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kum585H62Sg/T0gV7rf3EGI/AAAAAAAABGI/CdkeGSVeAu8/s400/dvdcases2.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have three of these dvd cases sitting on the bookshelves in my living room. I bought them a few years ago at Target. I really don't like for STUFF to take up more room than necessary. And that includes things like the plastic dvd containers when you buy a movie. We purchase more movies than we probably should. Especially now that we have kids! The most full of these cases is the one which houses their movies. The second most full is mine... filled with amazing culture rich entertainment like all seasons of Alias and Veronica Mars! Come on! We all love a good female lead with extra sass and tail-kicking capabilities!! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OpEXZjOYhx8/T0gXTIEMPNI/AAAAAAAABG4/BKcWkQL2Ua0/s1600/dvdcases3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OpEXZjOYhx8/T0gXTIEMPNI/AAAAAAAABG4/BKcWkQL2Ua0/s400/dvdcases3.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I digress! I love these because rather then keeping all of those pesky dvd boxes I can store 100 dvds in these cases with those little envelopes. I know this storage system isn't for everyone. In fact some days when little kiddos go "digging" to find a movie I have a love/hate relationship with it myself. But overall, the pros outweigh the cons for me. What would probably take up at least two shelves of our built-ins with the cases, only takes up half of one this way. But I had bought them to blend in with a dark stained TV cabinet... not my freshly painted <a href="http://lori1010-headabovewater.blogspot.com/2012/02/annnnnd-were-back-to-white.html">white and green</a> shelves. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The faux leather look started to bug me enough to make a change so I grabbed a scrap of Osnaburg and "reupholstered" them if you will. All I needed was the fabric and some hot glue. Callouses probably would have been helpful too as that hot glue can give you some wicked burns!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XXJGlqddDDw/T0gVv13XI8I/AAAAAAAABGA/0oXcdokL6gM/s1600/_MG_4243_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XXJGlqddDDw/T0gVv13XI8I/AAAAAAAABGA/0oXcdokL6gM/s400/_MG_4243_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-phzUK7bbpOI/T0gWXUcWGuI/AAAAAAAABGQ/SNWqhoC8jtY/s1600/dvdcases4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-phzUK7bbpOI/T0gWXUcWGuI/AAAAAAAABGQ/SNWqhoC8jtY/s400/dvdcases4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I simply removed all of the sides from the case. And actually, if you didn't already have some of the cases I think they would be fairly simple to DIY. With some old cereal boxes or other cardboard and some duct tape, you would have the base. Then just use a little more cardboard covered with something pretty and you would be in business!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But I did have the cases.... so after I removed the outside I cut my fabric down to size, laid my case piece right side down on it and glued down the edges. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G70FXKwpPtE/T0gWiaDV_uI/AAAAAAAABGY/sgQeQGwFU1s/s1600/dvdcases5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G70FXKwpPtE/T0gWiaDV_uI/AAAAAAAABGY/sgQeQGwFU1s/s400/dvdcases5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When you have all of the sides done, just glue them back onto the case.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZKS6SxvTWMU/T0gWqZb4tCI/AAAAAAAABGg/IOagjSPXVTY/s1600/dvdcases6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZKS6SxvTWMU/T0gWqZb4tCI/AAAAAAAABGg/IOagjSPXVTY/s400/dvdcases6.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is a side by side before and after.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I already thought they looked a lot better, but they were still a little boring! Sooooo, I got out my trusty acrylic paint and sharpie and added a little french grain sack look to them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here they are back at home on my shelves. I love that they fit there perfectly!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11429471987177027913noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1532052334945205275.post-47914064375378592822012-02-23T11:13:00.005-08:002012-02-23T11:46:57.931-08:00Annnnnd we're back to white!So, if you have been keeping up with me and my craziness for a while you will remember the <a href="http://lori1010-headabovewater.blogspot.com/2011/03/risky-business.html">risk</a> I took in painting the surround of my fireplace after we moved into our current house. My husband told me I could only share this post if I was willing to show the before, after and after after! :) I am a fickle gal!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Soon after we moved in our built ins around the fire place looked like this</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rO8vA73q-Lg/TYjWx_jUSKI/AAAAAAAAAZU/FSerYggskTU/s1600/_MG_4505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rO8vA73q-Lg/TYjWx_jUSKI/AAAAAAAAAZU/FSerYggskTU/s400/_MG_4505.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then I painted them black with some brown glaze for a more distressed look.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then, I painted my <a href="http://lori1010-headabovewater.blogspot.com/2012/02/kitchen-reveal2.html">kitchen</a> and it was bright and white and lovely! And my shelves just didn't look right. We have a very open floor plan. In fact this is the view of the shelves if you are standing in the kitchen. So the dark just wasn't working for me anymore. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So I went and got more paint (same color as my kitchen) and painted them back to white. This time with a little twist! The all white was still a little blah for me so I painted the back a lovely, but subtle spring green color!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And now... the after after:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YcnVFATcl8c/T0aGzbWCR5I/AAAAAAAABFo/HzrM1ClNkRs/s1600/_MG_4331_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YcnVFATcl8c/T0aGzbWCR5I/AAAAAAAABFo/HzrM1ClNkRs/s400/_MG_4331_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am smitten!! I have been tweaking a little here and there and there may still be a few small changes, but I really LOVE the results. It is bright and cheerful, but I feel like the green keeps it from feeling as cold as the all white shelves did to me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I filled in the shelves mostly with what was already there. Some of those items got mini makeovers. A couple are new. And a few are thrifted and therefore, just new to me!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OCV1kyTAN6o/T0aGfPjwJRI/AAAAAAAABFY/B5Fcf4pHN-0/s1600/_MG_4328_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OCV1kyTAN6o/T0aGfPjwJRI/AAAAAAAABFY/B5Fcf4pHN-0/s400/_MG_4328_edited-1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FQPYx9ErFYs/T0aGHKaMCoI/AAAAAAAABFA/etJcuf09zcc/s1600/_MG_4308_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FQPYx9ErFYs/T0aGHKaMCoI/AAAAAAAABFA/etJcuf09zcc/s400/_MG_4308_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here you can see my little <a href="http://lori1010-headabovewater.blogspot.com/2012/02/surprise-nothing-in-this-post-is.html">anthro knockoff pot</a> nestled in its new home on my shelves<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11429471987177027913noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1532052334945205275.post-13777593414950319332012-02-12T19:18:00.000-08:002012-02-12T21:25:05.549-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Surprise!!!! Nothing in this post is painted! Not to say I haven't been painting more (wink, wink)! But this was <b>supposed </b>to be an easy little project to pull some of my <a href="http://lori1010-headabovewater.blogspot.com/2012/02/kitchen-reveal2.html">kitchen</a> colors into my living room area. I spotted the below pot on the Anthropologie website and thought it was perfect. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fun and a little different, but with a price tag of $68 for the SMALL, I thought.... umm pretty sure I can make something similar for a teeny tiny fraction of the cost.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I did. But it took many hours. Although, they were mindless hours so I passed the time pretty pleasantly by watching Ryan Gosling remove his shirt a few time in Crazy Stupid Love. That man has GOT to be genetically altered in some way. I mean come on! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What was I saying again????? Oh right! Nerdy weekend nights making knock off pots!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4OSKvnsr2yA/Tzh-_HH6P2I/AAAAAAAABE0/mjU7lyLEimo/s1600/hey+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4OSKvnsr2yA/Tzh-_HH6P2I/AAAAAAAABE0/mjU7lyLEimo/s400/hey+girl.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ok, people eyes back on the blog! Sheesh I thought I was bad!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So for this little project I went to Wal-Mart and snagged my supplies for approximately $7.00. I got a package of sisal rope in the home improvement department and some two tone yarn in the crafting section.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mUJS0Q7jSME/Tzh5FpPCRCI/AAAAAAAABEU/1prhcw0cfsQ/s1600/anthrovase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mUJS0Q7jSME/Tzh5FpPCRCI/AAAAAAAABEU/1prhcw0cfsQ/s320/anthrovase.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I also bought that little pot for $3.00 but ended up using a Mason jar I had on hand because the shape worked better.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">I basically took the yarn and wrapped the twine in it. I wrapped and I wrapped and I wrapped. Then I whined because my carpal tunnel was acting up. Man, I'm a catch! Then I wrapped a little more. Then Crazy Stupid Love was over so I needed new eye candy! Enter Castle on Hulu! Nathan Fillion will do in a pinch! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">After all of that I had this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L4HwBuNqRww/Tzh5QEcAyPI/AAAAAAAABEc/9yT-449mfuY/s1600/anthrovase2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L4HwBuNqRww/Tzh5QEcAyPI/AAAAAAAABEc/9yT-449mfuY/s320/anthrovase2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The next part was easy. I just took my hot glue gun and wrapped the covered rope around the jar gluing as I went. And voila!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not an exact replica, but it still adds a fun pop of color to my newly painted bookshelves around my fire place! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Say WHAAAAA???? Yeah I did. Less than a WEEK after all that painting in the kitchen. I'm a glutton for punishment! I'm still tweaking final touches but will show you the newly painted shelves later this week!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11429471987177027913noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1532052334945205275.post-24165834320560867372012-02-09T07:14:00.000-08:002012-02-09T07:14:47.862-08:00Is Stainless Steel paint for you?Ok, I am going to talk a little about my experience with the Thomas Liquid Stainless Steel I used on my <a href="http://lori1010-headabovewater.blogspot.com/2011/11/stainless-steel-stove-for-less.html">stove</a>.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KbuMzApQmhY/TzPWG4thrrI/AAAAAAAABEM/pOUEoDUp7R0/s1600/stainless+stove2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KbuMzApQmhY/TzPWG4thrrI/AAAAAAAABEM/pOUEoDUp7R0/s320/stainless+stove2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have had a couple of questions about how it has held up. The answer is, not as well as I had hoped, but I will also say that the only area we have had problems is on the actual stove top and only under certain circumstances.</div><br />
Too cryptic? Ok, well, it was actually holding up beautifully for the last couple of months. Not so much as a chip. Until one day my sweet husband being helpful cleaned the top with a Magic Eraser. Something that pre-paint job I too would use to clean the stove top. Now, in fairness I don't think the kit came with particular instructions on how to clean it, but I just assumed something as strong as the Magic Eraser would be too risky on it. So anyway, After that we had two tiny chips on the stove top. Annoying, but they were easily touched up because I had PLENTY of the stainless paint left over. But not long after that... maybe a couple of weeks we had an incident where the teapot boiled over and we didn't catch it immediately. I don't know how long the puddle of hot water had been there when I went to clean it up, but when I did, a HUGE peeling of paint came up with it.<br />
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I'm not going to lie to you all... I cried. Yes, it is a stupid painted stove. But I stayed up for HOURS painstakingly adding thin layers to that stupid stove. I can only take so much. So after I cried and yelled and lost track of all real perspective in my life. I did what any mature mother and wife would do...... I stormed out of the house dramatically announcing that I had to go to Wal-Mart for more foam brushes to fix this "disaster"!! It was definitely one of my more proud moments!<br />
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The good news? I was able to do a decent touch up job on it. I sanded everything down and redid ALL of my layers. You really can't tell unless you know what you are looking for.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sdvO8cKPmFk/Tyxa6D4UghI/AAAAAAAAA_U/apUAc6jaFYM/s1600/kitchen+after11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sdvO8cKPmFk/Tyxa6D4UghI/AAAAAAAAA_U/apUAc6jaFYM/s320/kitchen+after11.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">This is the stove top after the touchups. </div><div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">One of the small chip areas next to the burner.</div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y74Le8heBB8/TzPWBLLAUKI/AAAAAAAABEE/CGRgdbZ1C1o/s1600/stainless+stove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y74Le8heBB8/TzPWBLLAUKI/AAAAAAAABEE/CGRgdbZ1C1o/s320/stainless+stove.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="228" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">If you look closely you can see a small line down the middle which is where the paint stopped peeling off. </div><div><br />
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The bad news? My husband and I are both really nervous about using and cleaning the stove top now. As soon as a new stove is in the budget.... which is probably not soon at all... but still as soon as it is I will purchase a real stainless steel stove.<br />
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I will say, that at this point I don't regret painting it. Mostly because I really did not like the two tone look of it before. I say at this point, because we haven't had more mishaps and I don't know if I could take touching that thing up every couple of months. I am hoping it was a fluke because of the boiling water... but I will keep you all posted.<br />
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Now... all that being said I have not had any issues at all with the stove front or even the drawer below where we keep our pans so it gets handled a lot. So it may be fine if you had a stove that you didn't mind the stove top itself and just wanted to do the door area. Although if you are looking for an easier fix, I have a good <a href="http://www.julieblanner.com/2011/10/diy-stainless-steel-makeover.html">friend</a> who recently used the stainless steel contact paper to redo her dishwasher. I have used this stuff as well (on a dishwasher) and was very pleased with the results. However, I knew that I wouldn't be able to use it on my stove top, which is why I chose the paint.<br />
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Anyway, I hope this helps any of you with questions about the paint. I guess the bottom line is if you have a decent, updated looking stove already and you are JUST looking for stainless steel I wouldn't try this. If you have the money, or are close to saving the money for a new stove and you are trying to decide between painting what you have and getting a new stove... get the new stove.<br />
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These are all of course my own opinions and experiences. I am just trying to be honest and informative. If any of you have or plan to use this paint I would LOVE to hear about your experiences. Let me know if you have any secrets or tips about this stuff that maybe I missed!Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11429471987177027913noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1532052334945205275.post-48465035266569922042012-02-07T15:20:00.000-08:002012-02-09T06:06:55.713-08:00Painted countertopsOkay folks... if you are interested in how I painted my countertops then settle in. This is probably going to be a long post. I feel like I should preface this post by telling you a few things. One, is that I am not generally a big fan of faux painting so I was skeptical when I started researching this project. Two, is that I am in no way shape or form a professional painter! And last, I have included a "tutorial" if you will of what I did with my preferences. One of the great things about painting your countertops is that you can play around and get a completely individual look for your space for next to nothing. Seriously. As I mentioned in my <a href="http://lori1010-headabovewater.blogspot.com/2012/02/kitchen-reveal2.html">kitchen reveal</a> we spent about $100 for ALL of our countertops. And we have a decent size kitchen.<br />
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So, how did I decide this was the route to go for us? Well, mostly because our budget really would not allow any other option. But now, I am really glad that was the case because I am really pleased with the final result. So I started doing some research online and pinning different kitchens where I saw end results I liked. The two I went back to the most were <a href="http://generalsplendour.blogspot.com/2011/02/ambush-makeover-my-formica-countertops.html">General Splendour</a> and <a href="http://www.creativekristi.com/video-tutorial-how-to-paint-your-countertops-to-look-like-granite/">Creative Kristi</a>. Both of these sites had great information about how to accomplish the look.<br />
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Then, I started checking out granite samples online. I knew I wanted something that was still light and actually fairly similar to what we had in our <a href="http://lori1010-headabovewater.blogspot.com/2011/03/looking-back.html">last home</a>. Here are a couple of the samples I used to inspire my look.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ls0YH8S-4SY/TzGVf_O8I1I/AAAAAAAABDk/dqJcX8UBoTk/s1600/grey_granite_texture_II_by_beckas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ls0YH8S-4SY/TzGVf_O8I1I/AAAAAAAABDk/dqJcX8UBoTk/s200/grey_granite_texture_II_by_beckas.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qKfmtSlDbas/TzGbthmeadI/AAAAAAAABDs/_xXI4Qr08-4/s1600/granite3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qKfmtSlDbas/TzGbthmeadI/AAAAAAAABDs/_xXI4Qr08-4/s200/granite3.jpg" width="159" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lto6Ucb-W2w/TzGbuGLUmPI/AAAAAAAABD0/8mHqt8CVWbE/s1600/granite+sample.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lto6Ucb-W2w/TzGbuGLUmPI/AAAAAAAABD0/8mHqt8CVWbE/s200/granite+sample.gif" width="166" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Then I painted a sample board. I think this step is important. It helped me get an idea of the order in which I wanted to layer my colors and incorporate them together. I included a picture of my sample board so that you can see my counters didn't end up looking exactly like it, but it was a great place to start and practice my technique.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ok. When you are satisfied with that it is time to get started. First I gave my countertops a really good scrub down. Then, I sanded them with 220 grit. Just enough to give them a little grip. I used Zinser oil based primer and let that dry really well. Then I used the leftover paint from my <a href="http://lori1010-headabovewater.blogspot.com/2012/01/we-have-been-little-busy-around-here.html">sideboard</a> as my base coat. When that was also really dry I got to the fun part. My supplies were really high tech! Paper towels and a paper plate and of course the acrylic craft paint. I later used an old toothbrush, but we'll get to that. (I told you it was a long post) Anyway I discovered that I liked using a slightly damp paper towel. Maybe it was all in my head but I felt like it thinned the paint just a little. One of the things I notice while researching other painted counters was that some really looked like splotches of craft paint on a surface and I did not want that. So I really tried to keep my layers thin and incorporate them together as seamlessly as possible while still getting that random "made in nature" stone look. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xu6lKZ-wHII/TzGNpqubrUI/AAAAAAAABC8/WjGe0zrSYXA/s1600/countertops2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xu6lKZ-wHII/TzGNpqubrUI/AAAAAAAABC8/WjGe0zrSYXA/s320/countertops2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I ended up using six different colors of craft paint, but three of them were in a very similar color family just varying shades or finishes. In order of layers I used Rain Gray, Silver metallic, Champaign metallic, Stone Gray, Cream and a hint of red for an unexpected accent color. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I started with my Rain Gray and just blotted all over.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iGa7z1UJaGE/TzGNekJTl1I/AAAAAAAABC0/GFbSPAj_nfk/s1600/countertops3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iGa7z1UJaGE/TzGNekJTl1I/AAAAAAAABC0/GFbSPAj_nfk/s320/countertops3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wrsOSNICICo/TzGNTvrNfKI/AAAAAAAABCs/0QoRvi0RPTE/s1600/countertops4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wrsOSNICICo/TzGNTvrNfKI/AAAAAAAABCs/0QoRvi0RPTE/s320/countertops4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And here is what it looked like after the first layer. Then I moved on to my metallic colors. I actually used them simultaneously. I really, really think the metallic colors took the finished product up a notch. They are a little translucent to they added a wonderful depth that doesn't read as well in the photographs. I highly recommend if you do this, no matter what your color scheme is, that you get a complimentary metallic paint. Anyway, I did the same thing with them. I just blotted away until I got the coverage I had in mind. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hTHoM5gSFWI/TzGM9j0TE1I/AAAAAAAABCc/XCuSNEwlsK4/s1600/countertops6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hTHoM5gSFWI/TzGM9j0TE1I/AAAAAAAABCc/XCuSNEwlsK4/s320/countertops6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then I used my darker gray color. Creative Kristi recommended using a half paper towel for your darker colors so you don't get too heavy handed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rJauAMyv3CU/TzGMyx3CNwI/AAAAAAAABCU/AN-x6UdJR54/s1600/countertops7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rJauAMyv3CU/TzGMyx3CNwI/AAAAAAAABCU/AN-x6UdJR54/s320/countertops7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cJS2KGVtN6A/TzGMn5PaAjI/AAAAAAAABCM/DqeFPblVBf4/s1600/countertops8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cJS2KGVtN6A/TzGMn5PaAjI/AAAAAAAABCM/DqeFPblVBf4/s320/countertops8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Um... I did use a half paper towel but I still went a little crazy with the dark gray. But if this happens to you don't freak out! That is what our next step is for. I then used my cream color to go back through and break up the dark spots a give an overall lighter look. I also was not afraid to just rub a little of the cream color into the countertop. I tried to go in a diagonal direction so it would almost look like the striae of cut stone.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After that step this is what I had. And then, because I noticed that some of the granite samples I saw had a hint of some unexpected color in very small sections I decided to do this with a tiny bit of red. This is where the toothbrush comes in. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NomNo2B-n7o/TzGMTznXBnI/AAAAAAAABB8/65CWhj5fSVQ/s1600/countertops10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NomNo2B-n7o/TzGMTznXBnI/AAAAAAAABB8/65CWhj5fSVQ/s320/countertops10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MI_Le1qTpkw/TzGMRMOe_CI/AAAAAAAABB0/bb-KXnmR9NQ/s1600/countertops11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MI_Le1qTpkw/TzGMRMOe_CI/AAAAAAAABB0/bb-KXnmR9NQ/s320/countertops11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I put the tiniest bit of red on the tip of the toothbrush and kinda flicked it on. The above picture shows how sparingly I used it. Just a little hint of this color is all you want. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After all of that I used a very fine grit sand paper... I think it was 400 and sanded the whole surface down to knock down the high spots and combine the colors a little more. For some reason I didn't get a picture of the counter after this step with the little section most of these pictures are from, but I did with another section. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vJJCVBZEHMg/TzGLsU7b0aI/AAAAAAAABBU/HJIPAnFncyI/s1600/countertops15" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vJJCVBZEHMg/TzGLsU7b0aI/AAAAAAAABBU/HJIPAnFncyI/s320/countertops15" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you are pleased with your result it is time to seal it all in!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JDdE2QjW1Ek/TzGL75PiTNI/AAAAAAAABBk/4q_lSlBGp6U/s1600/countertops13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JDdE2QjW1Ek/TzGL75PiTNI/AAAAAAAABBk/4q_lSlBGp6U/s320/countertops13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We used the Envirotex Lite from Hobby Lobby. I saved up 40% off coupons and made separate trips for each bottle. I definitely suggest using coupons because this stuff is pretty pricey without them. Also you will notice in this picture we tried to use butane lighters for the bubbles. DON'T do that! I read this warning and ignored it. If you don't already have a propane torch spend the extra $30 and get one. You will not regret it. We got one for the rest of the countertops because using these was miserable!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now... Cover everything!! Seriously this stuff drips everywhere.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f_AxLkxeF8c/TzGLh9jGyrI/AAAAAAAABBM/OBBv_7Pr2QI/s1600/countertops16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f_AxLkxeF8c/TzGLh9jGyrI/AAAAAAAABBM/OBBv_7Pr2QI/s320/countertops16.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1IA3qAMeQqI/TzGLSZ7RNEI/AAAAAAAABBE/x130aOVkkzs/s1600/countertops17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1IA3qAMeQqI/TzGLSZ7RNEI/AAAAAAAABBE/x130aOVkkzs/s320/countertops17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Again with our high tech tools. We used craft paper and saran wrap. I don't have any pictures of us doing the Envirotex because with a large surface it is definitely a two person job. It starts to set up pretty fast so you both need to be moving to keep spreading and wiping away drips along the bottom. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now after all of that work you will end up here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B1RY-hxvekE/TzGLCktkkJI/AAAAAAAABA8/G1dIA7KjJQ8/s1600/countertops18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B1RY-hxvekE/TzGLCktkkJI/AAAAAAAABA8/G1dIA7KjJQ8/s320/countertops18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c94G1bJ547Y/TzGVKYaMHNI/AAAAAAAABDc/E6dHdMbM-hs/s1600/countertops20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c94G1bJ547Y/TzGVKYaMHNI/AAAAAAAABDc/E6dHdMbM-hs/s320/countertops20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Look at that shine!! You can actually see reflections in it. And when it all cures, which admittedly seemed to take forever... (three days). It feels so nice and smooth. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is a couple more finished pictures of the area you saw me painting in the pictures. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c6ss91urMeE/TzGU18DgtCI/AAAAAAAABDM/_ofMwVcoPSc/s1600/countertops22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c6ss91urMeE/TzGU18DgtCI/AAAAAAAABDM/_ofMwVcoPSc/s320/countertops22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HFKGpVOK-7A/TzGU_0J6jXI/AAAAAAAABDU/wCXySxdWNFo/s1600/countertops21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HFKGpVOK-7A/TzGU_0J6jXI/AAAAAAAABDU/wCXySxdWNFo/s320/countertops21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you are on the fence about trying this I hope this informations helps. There were already good tutorials out there but when I was researching this, there was no such thing as too many examples. So I put mine out there hoping to make you that much more informed! If you have any other questions I am happy to answer!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11429471987177027913noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1532052334945205275.post-77340265661236154392012-02-03T18:04:00.001-08:002012-02-05T19:51:16.071-08:00Budget kitchen redo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finally!!! The kitchen is done! And I still have my arm!! I seriously thought it might fall off after all of that painting. But alas... it lives to paint another day. Oh I guarantee you it will paint another day!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See my pretty tulips my sweet husband gave to me. Let me tell ya, that is one patient man! He doesn't get a lot of warning before I dive into these projects of mine. He pretty much comes home from work one day with cabinet doors spread out everywhere. But he not only supports me, he helps me out where I need it. Truthfully I don't ask him to do a whole lot, only the things I am pretty sure I would make worse. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I actually totally burned him out on painting when we moved into our second apartment as a married couple. I made him stay up ALL night the night before we moved in painting every. single. room! Yeah, I pretty much deserve what I get!:) But that is another story for another day.... I think you all may have come to see a kitchen!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IYIFWWOLlmE/TyxcboiESrI/AAAAAAAABAc/zHA3QOiZeys/s1600/kitchen+after2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IYIFWWOLlmE/TyxcboiESrI/AAAAAAAABAc/zHA3QOiZeys/s400/kitchen+after2.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lets take one more look at the before pictures shall we?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LFtUoX803UI/TyhEJy1QoWI/AAAAAAAAA-s/lDvBDU6x6L0/s1600/kitchenbefore3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LFtUoX803UI/TyhEJy1QoWI/AAAAAAAAA-s/lDvBDU6x6L0/s400/kitchenbefore3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t4iHGZqzuB4/TyhEQW65fOI/AAAAAAAAA-0/-sGssfxle1s/s1600/kitchenbefore2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t4iHGZqzuB4/TyhEQW65fOI/AAAAAAAAA-0/-sGssfxle1s/s400/kitchenbefore2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-02DrAXLReMA/TyhEZMrVryI/AAAAAAAAA-8/YvFoTk6lJdc/s1600/kitchenbefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-02DrAXLReMA/TyhEZMrVryI/AAAAAAAAA-8/YvFoTk6lJdc/s400/kitchenbefore.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">People... that is a lot of oak! A lot of golden oak! It wasn't bad, but it wasn't me and I didn't love it. And I like to love my spaces... especially the one that I spend 97% of my day in!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well, I love it now!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RHsaMCX4pUE/TyxcDm5jONI/AAAAAAAAA_8/QwdmxUrEaDg/s1600/kitchen+after6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RHsaMCX4pUE/TyxcDm5jONI/AAAAAAAAA_8/QwdmxUrEaDg/s400/kitchen+after6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FOhRyV74a3o/TyxdAq5l5eI/AAAAAAAABA0/7SLnsbZAfWs/s1600/kitchen+after14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FOhRyV74a3o/TyxdAq5l5eI/AAAAAAAABA0/7SLnsbZAfWs/s400/kitchen+after14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OdKeUcmDIXM/TyxcjewDVmI/AAAAAAAABAk/rGctuRxL3lg/s1600/kitchen+after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OdKeUcmDIXM/TyxcjewDVmI/AAAAAAAABAk/rGctuRxL3lg/s400/kitchen+after.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is like a different kitchen all together! And guess what... it didn't break the bank! I spent less than $300 on the makeover itself! A little more if you add in new accessories.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So you want to know what all was done? Well like I said before... it was a WHOLE STINKING LOT of painting! If you remember I <a href="http://lori1010-headabovewater.blogspot.com/2011/11/stainless-steel-stove-for-less.html">painted my stove</a> to look like stainless steel. (Come back next week for some updated information about that.) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then I painted the island with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. I loved it. The wax you use to seal it was a little different. But the paint went on great and had fantastic coverage! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pviDmbfogCs/Tyxbt46HxQI/AAAAAAAAA_s/jShI-_Kl8iA/s1600/kitchen+after8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pviDmbfogCs/Tyxbt46HxQI/AAAAAAAAA_s/jShI-_Kl8iA/s400/kitchen+after8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The color is Paloma Gray. I knew I wanted the island to be a different color than the cabinets. Since I am on a bit of a gray kick right now I knew it would be something in that family.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3YmAAs0OGyE/TyxbgvjXGUI/AAAAAAAAA_k/dPYZxvXUV2M/s1600/kitchen+after9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3YmAAs0OGyE/TyxbgvjXGUI/AAAAAAAAA_k/dPYZxvXUV2M/s400/kitchen+after9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then I very slightly distressed it. I wanted the island to have a little more of a furniture feel to it. I have plans to add some other details to it some time to give it more of that feel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And of course I painted the rest of the cabinets. They are just right off the shelf white from Sherwin Williams pro classic line. I worked with oil paint for the first time on this project and truthfully if I had it to do over again I am not sure I would have used the oil base. I love Sherwin Williams paint and their latex pro classic is a GREAT paint. And with the trouble I had cleaning up the oil, I think the slightly less hard finish is worth it for the simplicity of latex. But that is just me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I used the same white to paint my table. It was heirloom white, but next to the bright white cabinets it just looked dirty. And then because everything else was changing I repainted <a href="http://lori1010-headabovewater.blogspot.com/2011/04/new-chairs.html">these chairs</a>. I still liked them but the seats were crazy dirty after being used by messy little boys and the chairs just didn't quite feel right with the new colors. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1-nhQNwnzGE/TyxajWvBF0I/AAAAAAAAA_E/NVZZ8g3NPvc/s1600/kitchen+after13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1-nhQNwnzGE/TyxajWvBF0I/AAAAAAAAA_E/NVZZ8g3NPvc/s400/kitchen+after13.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So I spray painted them and my stools with Rustoleum Dark Gray. Then I found a tablecloth on clearance at Target for $12 and it had all of the colors I wanted to pull together! I used it to reupholster the chairs.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T61rGTXP4RA/Tyxc6pnlBOI/AAAAAAAABAs/wg5I4dyazfU/s1600/kitchen+after15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T61rGTXP4RA/Tyxc6pnlBOI/AAAAAAAABAs/wg5I4dyazfU/s400/kitchen+after15.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Whats that??? You see new countertops?? Yeah those are painted too!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rQn-g28JeW0/Tyxb5jC8XAI/AAAAAAAAA_0/tAh99X-SB00/s1600/kitchen+after7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rQn-g28JeW0/Tyxb5jC8XAI/AAAAAAAAA_0/tAh99X-SB00/s400/kitchen+after7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Painted!! I love the finished product! I will have a more detailed post about this next week as well. I used leftover latex paint from my <a href="http://lori1010-headabovewater.blogspot.com/2012/01/we-have-been-little-busy-around-here.html">sideboard</a> and some acrylic craft paints in different colors and sealed it all off with Envirotex light! All of it cost about $100!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This little area is where our router has to sit. The phone jack is weirdly place on the wall next to the kitchen instead of along that back wall by the plug in. So completely hiding the cords is impossible, but this little box certainly makes it less noticeable.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-26EEpBmUuVU/TyxcUxT1dJI/AAAAAAAABAU/ixO1BueYaaI/s1600/kitchen+after3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-26EEpBmUuVU/TyxcUxT1dJI/AAAAAAAABAU/ixO1BueYaaI/s400/kitchen+after3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Cc6wcu2KlY/TyxbM8rtgwI/AAAAAAAAA_c/6fH-I7Ax3A0/s1600/kitchen+after10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Cc6wcu2KlY/TyxbM8rtgwI/AAAAAAAAA_c/6fH-I7Ax3A0/s400/kitchen+after10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See it all tucked in there with the phone cord coming out one side and the electric cord coming out the other. The box was a $5 Steinmart find, but it was UGLY. So I painted it and decoupaged some scrapbook paper on it to prettify it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nEP8tjK33Qo/TyxcQcU1JZI/AAAAAAAABAM/CfY6WceBT14/s1600/kitchen+after4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nEP8tjK33Qo/TyxcQcU1JZI/AAAAAAAABAM/CfY6WceBT14/s400/kitchen+after4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Over here a little canister I found at TJ Maxx for $8 holds my utensils. Then I couldn't resist the Pot holder and little gray cow both from Target!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p_vXzMN2NiU/TyxcM_tjUEI/AAAAAAAABAE/pg5V0E2Trws/s1600/kitchen+after5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p_vXzMN2NiU/TyxcM_tjUEI/AAAAAAAABAE/pg5V0E2Trws/s400/kitchen+after5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Over here is our little organization corner. I saw this idea on another blog. I can't remember which one now. But it is jut a hanging file basket with folders for things like my son's school information and my menus... blah blah blah. Then you clip a calendar on the front. I love it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well that concludes my kitchen tour. If you have questions or want more information about any one thing let me know and I will give some more details. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How about one more before and after??</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-02DrAXLReMA/TyhEZMrVryI/AAAAAAAAA-8/YvFoTk6lJdc/s1600/kitchenbefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-02DrAXLReMA/TyhEZMrVryI/AAAAAAAAA-8/YvFoTk6lJdc/s640/kitchenbefore.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<center><a href="http://www.the36thavenue.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="The 36th Avenue" src="http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/ae80/desireecampbell05/36thWPButton-1-1.jpg" /></a></center>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11429471987177027913noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1532052334945205275.post-64146646599139699022012-01-31T12:58:00.000-08:002012-01-31T12:58:35.694-08:00More than Before and AfterWho doesn't love a good Before and After! I know I get ridiculously excited about them. It is a lovely brief snapshot of transformation. Trash to Treasure, Blah to Beautiful... all in the blink of an eye, or the click of a mouse!<br />
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As I mentioned <a href="http://lori1010-headabovewater.blogspot.com/2012/01/sneak-peek.html">here</a> we have been working on our kitchen the past few weeks. It is so close to being finished. I am waiting for some things to cure and then I can put it all back together! I am so excited! But this post is just a reminder to all of us that a project always consists of so much more than the Before and After! It is so easy for me to lose sight of that as I surf blogs or Pinterest. I see these gorgeous makeovers that appeared to happen with a simple wave of a wand. Oh, of course logically I know it didn't happen like that, but it seems so easy!<br />
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Well, in order to get to every beautiful rewarding After, you have to push through the During stage. The one we gloss over in our heads when we picture the potential of a room/piece of furniture/DIY whatever. I just thought I would pop in today and keep it real with some snap shots of the During for your viewing pleasure! But first... lets check out a quick Before shot. All in all, not a bad kitchen, just not one I was in love with.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-02DrAXLReMA/TyhEZMrVryI/AAAAAAAAA-8/YvFoTk6lJdc/s1600/kitchenbefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-02DrAXLReMA/TyhEZMrVryI/AAAAAAAAA-8/YvFoTk6lJdc/s400/kitchenbefore.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So I started the deconstruction. Not too much had to be done yet as we painted the existing cabinets. But I did have to pull off every door and many of the drawers and haul them all down to the <strike>dungeon</strike> basement.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7KSRj_dxGJ0/Tyf-kSOcFMI/AAAAAAAAA-U/ViQsxAGtoEo/s1600/during2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7KSRj_dxGJ0/Tyf-kSOcFMI/AAAAAAAAA-U/ViQsxAGtoEo/s400/during2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qa1Sh-PgsSA/Tyf-w__56JI/AAAAAAAAA-c/xI4JsFopAe8/s1600/during.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qa1Sh-PgsSA/Tyf-w__56JI/AAAAAAAAA-c/xI4JsFopAe8/s400/during.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh yeah folks! My boys and I spent a good two to three days down here painting all of those doors. Luckily they have a little play area down here to keep them occupied.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NxJjqpzRerU/Tyf-3c-DeuI/AAAAAAAAA-k/5K1zROW6zBI/s1600/kitchenduring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NxJjqpzRerU/Tyf-3c-DeuI/AAAAAAAAA-k/5K1zROW6zBI/s400/kitchenduring.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Meanwhile... this is what my kitchen looked like! This is not a fun stage to live in! When I finally got all of the cabinets painted and hung back up I started with the countertops. Actually the island countertops were already finished in the above picture. I am so glad I did them separate from the rest.... You will see why in a second.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7cUugVbp1M/Tyf9_0mlpYI/AAAAAAAAA-E/uvoAsugA2dM/s1600/during4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7cUugVbp1M/Tyf9_0mlpYI/AAAAAAAAA-E/uvoAsugA2dM/s400/during4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While working on the rest of the counters we have a TON of stuff piled up on that island. I don't even know where it would all go if that was curing too! Notice I found a place where I could still have my coffee maker plugged in! Mama NEEDS her coffee people! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh! And my lovely new <a href="http://lori1010-headabovewater.blogspot.com/2012/01/dining-room-makeover.html">dining room</a> I just finished??? Yeah piled high with more junk from the kitchen!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-itxE-5e3VLc/Tyf9yM98yFI/AAAAAAAAA98/XvJ1IZnF0rU/s1600/during5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-itxE-5e3VLc/Tyf9yM98yFI/AAAAAAAAA98/XvJ1IZnF0rU/s400/during5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Why yes of course that is a kitchen sink laying in the floor! And yes that is a dish drainer on my pretty new sideboard!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Is all the work and chaos worth it? I think so. But I would do well to think more on the During before I go into my decorating frenzies! Anyone else struggle with this? Please say its not just me!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hopefully, by this time next week we will have some order back in our lives again..... at least until the next project!</div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11429471987177027913noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1532052334945205275.post-82501247341687468662012-01-26T19:13:00.000-08:002012-01-27T18:24:40.178-08:00Anthropologie plate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have had my eye on this cute plate from Anthropologie for a while now. It is very simple, but a little whimsical. The only problems were, 1 that it is $28.00... for a plate! And 2, maybe I am not deep enough to get it, but the poem excerpt on the plate didn't do much for me. So I went to Michaels and picked up a porcelain pen. (Michaels is the only craft store I have found them in so far.) I picked out a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson, cut a curly cue from a piece of paper for a template and wrote it on. You are supposed to let it dry for 24 hrs then bake the plate to set the pen. After that it says it is even dishwasher safe, although, I am not really worried about that as this is more for display than eating purposes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jxu9vYAIcTk/TyIOuHm-RXI/AAAAAAAAA9c/TzknhUZi_ws/s1600/anthro+plate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jxu9vYAIcTk/TyIOuHm-RXI/AAAAAAAAA9c/TzknhUZi_ws/s320/anthro+plate.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is how it turned out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vmbBzWo6muo/TyITcfLQVSI/AAAAAAAAA9k/AtVkr1CbG0s/s1600/anthro+knockoff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vmbBzWo6muo/TyITcfLQVSI/AAAAAAAAA9k/AtVkr1CbG0s/s320/anthro+knockoff.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RuOivVUnLk8/TyIThqH7CuI/AAAAAAAAA9s/axgiudfnt08/s1600/anthro+knockoff2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RuOivVUnLk8/TyIThqH7CuI/AAAAAAAAA9s/axgiudfnt08/s320/anthro+knockoff2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QbERMcHXEH8/TyITxIVJw2I/AAAAAAAAA90/Z1gli3CV4fc/s1600/anthro+knockoff4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QbERMcHXEH8/TyITxIVJw2I/AAAAAAAAA90/Z1gli3CV4fc/s320/anthro+knockoff4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My plate isn't as simple as the Anthropologie one. I got this one at Nell Hills as a pair to hang in my <a href="http://lori1010-headabovewater.blogspot.com/2012/01/dining-room-makeover.html">dining room</a> but one of them broke. So the only cost of this project was $3.99 for the pen. But if you don't have a plate on hand I have seen simple white plates at Target that are very inexpensive. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here it is propped up in my Dining room. Its final place will be in the kitchen but this worked for getting pictures taken!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dXnzTCIiKvw/TyIOX1PELII/AAAAAAAAA88/sezU9e1WJ-c/s1600/anthro+knockoff3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dXnzTCIiKvw/TyIOX1PELII/AAAAAAAAA88/sezU9e1WJ-c/s320/anthro+knockoff3.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This could be really cute for Valentines day with love quotes or something. Go grab a Porcelain pen and get creative!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="http://tatertotsandjello.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://tatertotsandjello.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/978446890_7b2ZN-O2.png" alt="" /></a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11429471987177027913noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1532052334945205275.post-81304668402416078522012-01-25T13:35:00.000-08:002012-01-27T18:25:27.587-08:00Boys' dinosaur room<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So... as promised I got a burst of energy and cleaned up the boys shared room (I even washed the sheets... what?!?!) to take some pictures to share. As I posted <a href="http://lori1010-headabovewater.blogspot.com/2012/01/super-hero-playroom.html">yesterday</a> we recently moved both the boys into a shared bedroom space in favor of having a playroom for them. It isn't anything fancy, but they seem to enjoy it. The best part is that I only bought two items to change this room up!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is the view as you come into the room. The bunk beds belonged to my husband when he was young. My boys think it is awesome that they get to build "forts" on the same bed as their daddy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PtFgSIQuyZY/TyBkQVfBHiI/AAAAAAAAA8M/yQw_cKf8Ohc/s1600/dinoroom6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PtFgSIQuyZY/TyBkQVfBHiI/AAAAAAAAA8M/yQw_cKf8Ohc/s400/dinoroom6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B9UaUzVrjfk/TyBkH50vMVI/AAAAAAAAA8E/zwE1KHtp_1Q/s1600/dinoroom7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B9UaUzVrjfk/TyBkH50vMVI/AAAAAAAAA8E/zwE1KHtp_1Q/s320/dinoroom7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I04UfSA3-LA/TyBj6yGSUtI/AAAAAAAAA78/yMPehEKFj9s/s1600/dinoroom8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I04UfSA3-LA/TyBj6yGSUtI/AAAAAAAAA78/yMPehEKFj9s/s400/dinoroom8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When we bought the house my older son was OBSESSED with dinosaurs so I knew I wanted to use them for his room.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9B0wuBpqttQ/TyBjXxwOVJI/AAAAAAAAA7U/wtDsbO0YfBs/s1600/dinoroom13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9B0wuBpqttQ/TyBjXxwOVJI/AAAAAAAAA7U/wtDsbO0YfBs/s400/dinoroom13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I found the super cute quilt on the bottom bunk at Company Kids. Of course when I was ready to move the kiddos in together they had stopped carrying that particular quilt. I ended up just buying dino sheets from target (one of the two purchases) and using the plain red bed spread that came out of the other bedroom. I think I actually like the mix and match look better. I put the dino pillowcase on the bottom bunk and the pillow that matches the quilt on the top bunk to pull them together. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bAHeLbqmIHw/TyBlStCMtiI/AAAAAAAAA80/NqVPSbNu-N8/s1600/dinoroom1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bAHeLbqmIHw/TyBlStCMtiI/AAAAAAAAA80/NqVPSbNu-N8/s400/dinoroom1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the boys' favorite things is this giant t-rex decal. I found it on Etsy. I wish I could remember which shop but I don't. I know it is a little cheesy and over the top, but I am ok with that for my kids' rooms. And when they outgrow it all I have to do is pull it down!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zFMSVD7wNb4/TyBj1ZCO7zI/AAAAAAAAA70/W2lB3U_qfLE/s1600/dinoroom9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zFMSVD7wNb4/TyBj1ZCO7zI/AAAAAAAAA70/W2lB3U_qfLE/s400/dinoroom9.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This little nook was perfect for a garage sale desk I found when my oldest was a baby. I spray painted it Navy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--eFjV24uf2w/TyBjvpXyqKI/AAAAAAAAA7s/J1H8Ve1_yPg/s1600/dinoroom10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--eFjV24uf2w/TyBjvpXyqKI/AAAAAAAAA7s/J1H8Ve1_yPg/s400/dinoroom10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was my other purchase. The little cubby things from Target with mini baskets. Ignore the fact that it is completely not centered. I had a serious case of "Iwantthisdonerightnowitis"!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bD53Sepp2co/TyBjpKFRhqI/AAAAAAAAA7k/FAwAznAGmQs/s1600/dinoroom11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bD53Sepp2co/TyBjpKFRhqI/AAAAAAAAA7k/FAwAznAGmQs/s400/dinoroom11.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The chair was a clearance find at HomeGoods. It was painted with some car them. I spray painted it green and Mod Podged Dinosaurs cut out of scrapbooking paper onto the front and back! I do love me some Mod Podge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YLry7pJrlxE/TyBjjGlwngI/AAAAAAAAA7c/N2u1bKOy0Og/s1600/dinoroom12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YLry7pJrlxE/TyBjjGlwngI/AAAAAAAAA7c/N2u1bKOy0Og/s400/dinoroom12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is little man working away on his "laptop".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vi8O3Ohziw0/TyBkeHmfWII/AAAAAAAAA8U/3aqCn4AgDjc/s1600/dinoroom5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vi8O3Ohziw0/TyBkeHmfWII/AAAAAAAAA8U/3aqCn4AgDjc/s400/dinoroom5.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The drapes were some that we had used in our previous house. I added three colors of grosgrain ribbon and embroidery thread. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Y7phejOkzs/TyBkuSjo7xI/AAAAAAAAA8c/xsxMy9Ecs8I/s1600/dinoroom4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Y7phejOkzs/TyBkuSjo7xI/AAAAAAAAA8c/xsxMy9Ecs8I/s400/dinoroom4.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've had these lamps forever. I found them at Target years ago on clearance for like $10 per lamp with the shades. I spray painted the shade and added a fun display dinosaur inside. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e6rgKejJx6o/TyBk-xSQwfI/AAAAAAAAA8k/W2NBo6bGCi4/s1600/dinoroom3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e6rgKejJx6o/TyBk-xSQwfI/AAAAAAAAA8k/W2NBo6bGCi4/s400/dinoroom3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This sign was made by my mom and sister when my oldest was about a year. It is just a painted canvas with a wall decal on it. They splattered brown paint all over to look like mud and made "dirty handprints" with the same paint.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zD2bIcAjnvM/TyBlHKwLZ4I/AAAAAAAAA8s/6W8pKZc2x_Y/s1600/dinoroom2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zD2bIcAjnvM/TyBlHKwLZ4I/AAAAAAAAA8s/6W8pKZc2x_Y/s400/dinoroom2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my favorite part of the room. My mom found this after we had already started the Dino theme. I painted this in second grade for the art and science fair. It is a finger painting and the legs are the sides of my hands. I love having this little piece of my childhood in my boys' room!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well, I hope you enjoyed my boys' spaces! They won't win any design contests but my boys love them and that is enough for me!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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Linking up to:<br />
<a href="http://www.houseofhepworths.com"><img src="http://www.houseofhepworths.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/HookinupwithHoHnew2.png" alt="HookingupwithHoH" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://tatertotsandjello.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://tatertotsandjello.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/978446890_7b2ZN-O2.png" alt="" /></a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11429471987177027913noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1532052334945205275.post-16366564690850000852012-01-24T10:18:00.000-08:002013-03-22T18:13:51.520-07:00Super Hero playroom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Holy Playroom Batman!!! I know its a stretch! But how can you write a super hero post without using a Holy Something Batman exclamatory??</div>
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Anyway, I finally got motivated enough to clean this room up and get some shots of it this morning. When we moved into this house almost two years ago we assumed that since we had the space it would be best to set up a bedroom for each of our boys. We had come from a two bedroom town house and thought they would enjoy having their "own" space. Um... not so much. Since we've lived here I am sure I could count on one hand the number of times they've slept in separate rooms.They actually love sleeping in the same bed! So a few months ago I started really wondering why we were using a whole room for a bedroom when no one wanted to sleep there. </div>
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I have wanted to do a superhero themed playroom for the boys for a while. I had originally planned on doing it in our unfinished basement. Then it dawned on me! Duh! (I'm kinda slow like that) We could rearrange the boys furniture so they could share a bedroom and move most of the toys to the other room for a playroom. They were on board immediately! </div>
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This is the best before picture I could find. The boys' beds are actually my husband's bunk beds from when he was little. Now that they are older we thought they were ready for us to bunk them. So we did and moved them to the other room. (If I get enough energy later this week maybe I'll blog that room.) </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MmaKkNDUo7M/Tx7uZCwnHzI/AAAAAAAAA68/FRBQ_YU-4o0/s1600/samroom_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MmaKkNDUo7M/Tx7uZCwnHzI/AAAAAAAAA68/FRBQ_YU-4o0/s400/samroom_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I switched around the furniture quite a bit and moved their train table up from the basement. They got this super cool Batman Geo Trax train set for Christmas this year. I decided to paint the table to look more like a bat cave. Black with yellow cubbies. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M6mflE9b3yQ/Tx7n72tuG3I/AAAAAAAAA6s/2rg0NC-Bam8/s1600/superhero+room2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M6mflE9b3yQ/Tx7n72tuG3I/AAAAAAAAA6s/2rg0NC-Bam8/s400/superhero+room2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uTZaYr47bDE/Tx7oJC2hkkI/AAAAAAAAA60/AlMyp1ns-P0/s1600/superhero+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uTZaYr47bDE/Tx7oJC2hkkI/AAAAAAAAA60/AlMyp1ns-P0/s400/superhero+room.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_KZyzCKM15s/Tx7nzwKaYFI/AAAAAAAAA6k/diX66fg6cF4/s1600/superhero+room3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_KZyzCKM15s/Tx7nzwKaYFI/AAAAAAAAA6k/diX66fg6cF4/s400/superhero+room3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I was able to reuse a lot of the decor I made for the <a href="http://lori1010-headabovewater.blogspot.com/2011/08/super-hero-party.html">Super Hero Party</a> back in August for this room, which made me SO happy. It was a lot of work and I'm glad it wasn't just for one day!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-__f1erjKhZc/Tx7nNL8t9iI/AAAAAAAAA6E/TFtgVcleKeg/s1600/superhero+room7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-__f1erjKhZc/Tx7nNL8t9iI/AAAAAAAAA6E/TFtgVcleKeg/s400/superhero+room7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Those reused items include the comic book bunting and the cardboard box city scape. Just cardboard boxes black wrapping paper and card stock! We just happened to have the perfect little ledge in this room for displaying them. And since they are not super sturdy it is an added bonus that they are well out of the boys' reach!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aJoteqbrwLk/Tx7neeyc4xI/AAAAAAAAA6U/aqIN5QjK_c0/s1600/superhero+room5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aJoteqbrwLk/Tx7neeyc4xI/AAAAAAAAA6U/aqIN5QjK_c0/s400/superhero+room5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I was also able to hang the framed comic book pictures from the party. The clock was a clearance purchase from Target. It was under $3.00. The other picture is actually made from that little fire truck canvas you can see next to the bed in the before picture. I painted it a dark grey and Mod Podged a map cut from a book. Then my mom had some scrapbooking letters and we used them to write "Time to save the world". </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5F_clMniNfc/Tx7m4c7nwRI/AAAAAAAAA50/iDOl42MqS6s/s1600/superhero+room9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5F_clMniNfc/Tx7m4c7nwRI/AAAAAAAAA50/iDOl42MqS6s/s400/superhero+room9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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These frames were in the boys' rooms before as well. I just put new pictures in a couple of them. I painted the large one with chalk board paint so I could write fun hero quotes on it!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gYKfkClVt-c/Tx7mighA8vI/AAAAAAAAA5k/t7m4STwaWV4/s1600/superhero+room11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gYKfkClVt-c/Tx7mighA8vI/AAAAAAAAA5k/t7m4STwaWV4/s400/superhero+room11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I got the idea for these bins from <a href="http://sugartotdesigns.blogspot.com/2011/11/boys-superhero-room-reveal.html">Sugar Tot Designs</a>. I didn't' realize until they were done that my Super Man logo is in the wrong color. Maybe I'll fix it..... someday! </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GPKao12c6q4/Tx7mpE9pAZI/AAAAAAAAA5s/rmtq-b2EfG8/s1600/superhero+room10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GPKao12c6q4/Tx7mpE9pAZI/AAAAAAAAA5s/rmtq-b2EfG8/s400/superhero+room10.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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The lamp was in here before but it needed a new lampshade. I bought a cheap drum shade from Target and went to town with a sharpie. Clearly I am a natural born artist! ;)</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nMd-7SkHP8Y/Tx7nE7LpAbI/AAAAAAAAA58/ZSrSPE7sCHA/s1600/superhero+room8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nMd-7SkHP8Y/Tx7nE7LpAbI/AAAAAAAAA58/ZSrSPE7sCHA/s400/superhero+room8.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
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I found these cute prints on Etsy from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheRekindledPage?ref=seller_info">TheRekindledPage</a>. I had a hard time choosing just two. She had so many fun pictures!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vvf3SXCwPk0/Tx74KbnWPGI/AAAAAAAAA7E/ekke_YFGjG8/s1600/superhero+room15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vvf3SXCwPk0/Tx74KbnWPGI/AAAAAAAAA7E/ekke_YFGjG8/s320/superhero+room15.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2PVhOn71PI/Tx74P5JiCpI/AAAAAAAAA7M/aq-30QZxlrk/s1600/superhero+room14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2PVhOn71PI/Tx74P5JiCpI/AAAAAAAAA7M/aq-30QZxlrk/s320/superhero+room14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have seen both of these signs floating around Pinterest and decided to make my own version. The brother sign is canvas and my mom and I used her cricut to cut the letters out of old comic books and Mod Podged them on.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JHxZShnC59w/Tx7nm0dszzI/AAAAAAAAA6c/a5wayq-LkbI/s1600/superhero+room4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JHxZShnC59w/Tx7nm0dszzI/AAAAAAAAA6c/a5wayq-LkbI/s400/superhero+room4.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
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Simple command hooks hung at kiddo level keep their capes available at all times!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sNsB0j6Yrhg/Tx7mVe_95bI/AAAAAAAAA5U/1fSR_VLxyk4/s1600/superhero+room13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sNsB0j6Yrhg/Tx7mVe_95bI/AAAAAAAAA5U/1fSR_VLxyk4/s400/superhero+room13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UhYlEdFw88U/Tx7maBG1NqI/AAAAAAAAA5c/ANUUoz0Pc2Y/s1600/superhero+room12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UhYlEdFw88U/Tx7maBG1NqI/AAAAAAAAA5c/ANUUoz0Pc2Y/s400/superhero+room12.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
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And just because it is fun here are a couple of pictures of the batman train set. Not gonna lie... this one makes it easy to get down on the floor and play with the boys!</div>
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Have a Super week! </div>
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Ok, Ok I am done with the cheesy jokes now. Probably!</div>
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Linking up to:<br />
<a href="http://www.houseofhepworths.com/"><img alt="HookingupwithHoH" src="http://www.houseofhepworths.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/HookinupwithHoHnew2.png" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://tatertotsandjello.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://tatertotsandjello.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/978446890_7b2ZN-O2.png" /></a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11429471987177027913noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1532052334945205275.post-31977601353762443742012-01-20T08:53:00.000-08:002012-01-20T08:53:05.994-08:00Sneak peek!<div style="text-align: center;">Ok, so I have good news, then bad news and then more good news! The good news is that I am ALMOST DONE with the kitchen! The bad news is that I don't think I am going to make it under my $200 budget. The other good news is that if you only have $200 I can tell you how to tweak some of the choices I made to do it with that budget!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is a sneak peak of what is going on! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NMWBzveyztc/Txma9SMBIWI/AAAAAAAAA5E/cMD8zTIOGF0/s1600/island_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NMWBzveyztc/Txma9SMBIWI/AAAAAAAAA5E/cMD8zTIOGF0/s320/island_edited-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's all you get for now! If I still have an arm when I am done with all this painting you'll see the afters very soon!! </div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11429471987177027913noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1532052334945205275.post-90985256633603699672012-01-14T16:22:00.000-08:002012-01-27T08:29:48.107-08:00DIY baby bedding.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just a quick post to share the baby bedding I just finished for a good friend of mine that just had a baby. <a href="http://www.julieblanner.com/2011/11/lately-i-have-been-hearing-lot-of-buzz.html">She</a> has very classic simple style. She mentioned that she wanted something along the lines of this bedding shown below. This gorgeous linen bedding set is from Layla Grace. Isn't it lovely? The price tag, however is not so lovely. $205 just for the bumper!! What????</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GRY8I7HrkSs/TxIICpZvE7I/AAAAAAAAA4E/hWK9BjivGOY/s1600/laylagrace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GRY8I7HrkSs/TxIICpZvE7I/AAAAAAAAA4E/hWK9BjivGOY/s1600/laylagrace.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anyway, I volunteered to try my hand at making the bedding for her with my favorite go to fabric.... no, not burlap.... the other one. It is called Osnaburg. It is also found in the utility fabric section and is only about 3.99/yd at any fabric store. It has a lovely natural linen look to it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I gave her the bumper a few weeks ago and she sent me some of the pictures she took of it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xaxjx9j8v1I/TxhxXkEs1UI/AAAAAAAAA4g/vrLvQdDLwa8/s1600/bumper2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xaxjx9j8v1I/TxhxXkEs1UI/AAAAAAAAA4g/vrLvQdDLwa8/s320/bumper2" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I used a ruffler foot to do the ruffles on each side. And I included nice wide ties. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today I finished the comforter to go with it. It is also done with the osnaburg and has ruffles all around. For a little personalization I freezer paper stenciled baby girl's name on it as well. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fbx9IosspPM/TxIG_Klz4FI/AAAAAAAAA38/En5AGjSEME8/s1600/baby+blanket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fbx9IosspPM/TxIG_Klz4FI/AAAAAAAAA38/En5AGjSEME8/s320/baby+blanket.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The font is Jane Austen from dafont.com. I love it!</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> And since I had leftover ruffles I didn't want to waste, (It just seemed wrong to throw them away) I made a matching pillow and stenciled Aniston's birthdate on it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hope you and Aniston like it Julie! I can't wait to see the finished Nursery!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Update: Julie took this great picture of the comforter in the room.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tQHW9Cq1IxY/TxhyxLREX-I/AAAAAAAAA48/oAC_-VfUL3o/s1600/pillow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tQHW9Cq1IxY/TxhyxLREX-I/AAAAAAAAA48/oAC_-VfUL3o/s320/pillow.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A side note: My sewing machine died right at the end of making the comforter. Like, the needle will NOT move. So this pillow is all made with stitch witch and liqui-stitch. Isn't that ruffled flower precious?? I love it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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Linking up to:<br />
<a href="http://www.houseofhepworths.com"><img src="http://www.houseofhepworths.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/HookinupwithHoHnew2.png" alt="HookingupwithHoH" /></a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11429471987177027913noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1532052334945205275.post-83622609348621052932012-01-12T09:57:00.000-08:002012-05-17T08:46:07.093-07:00Dining room makeover<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Since I know you have all been just sitting on the edge of your seats to see my dining room makeover... here it is! :) First, lets do a quick before.</div>
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In the nook is the Beast's sister in all her black glory! See the room wasn't bad... but a little heavy. First... those old lady curtains had to go. Those came with the house. Then I painted everything below the chair rail a nice bright white and above a soft bluish grey. I painted the hutch and sideboard and added a few other fun little details.</div>
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The lovely floral pictures were found at Home Goods for less than $15 a piece.... framed! I love that place. The runner is made from leftover fabric from the window treatment. To give it a little more interest I taped off a couple of stripes and painted some blue/grey acrylic paint with textile medium added to it. </div>
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This mirror and the plates came from one of my absolute favorite stores, Nell Hill's. They have BEAUTIFUL decor in there. The furniture is really expensive but the accessories are surprisingly affordable! It is a little hard to tell in the picture, but the plates actually look like tree stumps. Crisp AND a little rustic! Be still my heart!</div>
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Here is a better shot of the hutch. I like her soooo much better in the grey. </div>
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A chair that used to be in my office until I realized it wasn't nearly tush friendly enough for the amount of time I spend editing pics!</div>
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I had bought two more white plates to hang here as well, but in my severe impatience to get them hung I cut corners and they fell and one broke. Whoops! So I found this old Pampered Chef woven platter and hung it. Then added a coffee filter wreath to lighten it up some. Cost.... nothing! Love that!</div>
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And finally... replacement window treatments. I did the faux roman shade treatment using the old mini blinds using <a href="http://365days2simplicity.blogspot.com/2011/04/easy-no-sew-roman-shades.html">this tutorial</a>. It was so simple! And again I used fabric I had bought a long time ago for another project. So the only cost was liquid stitch, ribbon and the pom pom trim I placed across the bottom.</div>
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Here you can see that it functions perfectly as well. I rarely close it, but it is nice to have the option!</div>
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Over all this room makeover was very inexpensive! Mostly just the cost of paint. And I am very pleased with the result! Let's take one more look at the before and after shall we??</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--90P5kuBKvc/Tw8WwOFhAgI/AAAAAAAAA3M/K2NMD63q-fA/s1600/dining+before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--90P5kuBKvc/Tw8WwOFhAgI/AAAAAAAAA3M/K2NMD63q-fA/s200/dining+before.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UJ1jHqzWgHo/Tw8VI9DiPNI/AAAAAAAAA28/4GchmalN97c/s1600/diningafter3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UJ1jHqzWgHo/Tw8VI9DiPNI/AAAAAAAAA28/4GchmalN97c/s200/diningafter3.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
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Linking up to <br />
<br />
<a href="http://tatertotsandjello.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://tatertotsandjello.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/978446890_7b2ZN-O2.png" /></a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11429471987177027913noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1532052334945205275.post-36391682247944603952012-01-10T13:09:00.000-08:002012-01-13T21:38:10.595-08:00Sideboard makeover<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have been a little busy around here! Something about the motivation of a new year always makes me want to start checking things off my diy list. The piece in this post has actually been done for quite a while, but I just got motivated to get all the furniture in the dining room rearranged for it to fit right in the space. Tomorrow I will show you the whole dining room which has been in process for (cough, cough) a while! Anyway!!! It is done now. And that is what matters. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This sideboard was my Grandmothers and her sister (my hutch) has been in my dining room since we moved into this house. I had originally painted the hutch black. I loved it, but it ended up feeling a little heavy. And especially when I got her sister... I refer to her as the Beast... I knew the black would consume the room.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">P.S. Yes, I do usually humanize my furniture. Some of my close friends and family have already suggested I seek help for this, ahem, quirk of mine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So I went with a nice soft grey color instead. Who after looking around on Pinterest for any length of time could avoid the soft grey craze??? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here are a few pictures before. See why I call her the beast?? She is HUGE! But ALL of that storage makes me feel a little giddy! (ignore our disaster area of a garage)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nsPqZ7CbDBg/TwychL-0BJI/AAAAAAAAA1k/2N6EW_PqPyE/s1600/sideboardbefore3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nsPqZ7CbDBg/TwychL-0BJI/AAAAAAAAA1k/2N6EW_PqPyE/s320/sideboardbefore3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And here she is now! I think the color is called Everyday Grey by Sherwin Williams. Their ProClassic line is usually my go to paint for furniture. Especially if it is a piece that will get a lot of use. It holds up beautifully in my experience. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1oiAmNqixU/Twyc_Bqp_YI/AAAAAAAAA18/vPv7GJ764JI/s1600/sideboard3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1oiAmNqixU/Twyc_Bqp_YI/AAAAAAAAA18/vPv7GJ764JI/s320/sideboard3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And here she is situated perfectly in the little nook in my dining room. It is as if it was made just for her!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41eFwiQkYvA/TwydEdBKV6I/AAAAAAAAA2E/Xj0Jd-_Uuek/s1600/sideboard2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41eFwiQkYvA/TwydEdBKV6I/AAAAAAAAA2E/Xj0Jd-_Uuek/s320/sideboard2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not only is it great storage, I can't wait to have a dinner party! Isn't that just the perfect place for all those dishes that crowd the table when you have a large group? </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0wJZlkwXbeU/TwydI6mA0vI/AAAAAAAAA2M/s7qwkrKUc1s/s1600/sideboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0wJZlkwXbeU/TwydI6mA0vI/AAAAAAAAA2M/s7qwkrKUc1s/s320/sideboard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anyway... this is just the beginning of the projects that are getting checked off around here. We have been working on moving the boys into a shared room so we can turn the other into a play room for them. So fun! Stay tuned!</div><br />
Linking up to:<br />
<a href="http://tatertotsandjello.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://tatertotsandjello.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/978446890_7b2ZN-O2.png" /></a><br />
<a href="http://missmustardseed.com/2012/01/furniture-feature-friday-link-party-3/">Miss Mustard Seed</a><br />
<a href="http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/2012/01/sign-making-with-decoart.html">The Shabby Creek Cottage</a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11429471987177027913noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1532052334945205275.post-77657628189910164892011-12-12T09:36:00.000-08:002011-12-12T09:36:59.330-08:00Handmade Christmas giftsSeriously... is Christmas less than two weeks away already??? How did that happen? This time of year is so crazy for us anyway as we have a lot of family birthdays crammed into the Holiday madness as well. My poor oldest is that kid who gets ripped off in the party category because his birthday falls smack in the middle of December! I fully intended to do a party this year... then I blinked and his birthday is in two days. The best I will be able to rustle up is Angry Bird cake pops for his pre-school class. Boo!<br />
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But I have been busy at work with hand made Christmas gifts for almost everyone on my list! I am hoping to share at least a couple of them this week! The first is part of the gift for my son's preschool teacher. Since I am new to the whole "school" thing I don't know what people normally do for teachers. But we just love both of his teachers this year. They are so sweet and have made his transition from home all the time to part time school so enjoyable for him! I wanted to do something different than just a treat basket. (My usual stand-by gift). It started with a pin... of course.<br />
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<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/201536152044506351/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="455" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/197102921161140540_xrDuxXlf_c.jpg" width="540" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.stamp48.com/2011/07/11/diy-how-to-make-a-we-are-owls-inspired-poem-script-scarf/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">stamp48.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/loriasher/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Lori</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
I wanted to try something similar to this. To be perfectly honest; I got a little too ambitious and it didn't turn out exactly like I had in mind. Once again, I leapt into a project without thinking through all of the details. I think it cam out ok though.<br />
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I started with some inexpensive knit fabric from JoAnne. I got four yards and was thinking I could do the teacher gifts plus some for friends as well. And here is where I messed up. Instead of reading the instructions closely to realize I should have used two yards for the length. I figured the width of the fabric (58") would be fine. It is ok, but if you do one I recommend using the 2 yd length instead. I ended up using exactly 1/2 yard of fabric per scarf.<br />
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I found a quote about teaching I liked and used a Tee Juice marker (also found at JoAnne) to do the writing. I wrote it out in cursive and then sewed a little pom pom trim onto the ends of the scarf.<br />
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Here is the finished product.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our newest family member trying to check it out. Please also ignore my insanely dirty floors!</td></tr>
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<div>I tried it on, but only got an iPhone picture of that. You can see that it is too short to loop all the way around, but I think it still works. </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m7OjTb0baMI/TuY58WRjs-I/AAAAAAAAA1Q/niteqjXGno8/s1600/scarfpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m7OjTb0baMI/TuY58WRjs-I/AAAAAAAAA1Q/niteqjXGno8/s320/scarfpic.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Let me know what you think. What kind of DIY gifts are you all working on?? Seriously... I need some more ideas! :)</div><div><br />
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</div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11429471987177027913noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1532052334945205275.post-39161623715013711462011-11-30T19:34:00.000-08:002012-05-17T08:47:13.561-07:00Consider my halls decked!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been a busy bee around here trying to get all of my Christmas decorations up. For some reason, this year I wasn't feeling the red pepper berry "theme" I have had the last few years. I don't know, I think at some point I seriously overdosed on red and now I just can't take much of it. Anyway, I have had a fun week trying to reinvent my Christmas decor minus the berries. I looked back, but I don't think I took good pictures of my house decorated last year.<br />
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Here is what I came up with for my mantle:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VQ4aeTKMpdQ/TtbphQnA13I/AAAAAAAAA0Y/h1AbANmp2mA/s1600/christmas+mantel1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VQ4aeTKMpdQ/TtbphQnA13I/AAAAAAAAA0Y/h1AbANmp2mA/s400/christmas+mantel1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My stockings don't really go with the new look that well, but what are ya gonna do?</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bKBtjADd6Yo/TtbptfEEIGI/AAAAAAAAA0g/V9h2RBCvWn4/s1600/mantelside1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bKBtjADd6Yo/TtbptfEEIGI/AAAAAAAAA0g/V9h2RBCvWn4/s400/mantelside1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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To replace my red berry topiaries I found these GIANT pine cones at Nell Hills. They sit perfectly in my Restoration Hardware cache pots. I tied my burlap covered vase with some wired gold ribbon and hung some simple ornaments from the branches. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5LGZFWggyMg/TtbqBbdO74I/AAAAAAAAA0o/iKsIbUxZFBA/s1600/mantelside2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5LGZFWggyMg/TtbqBbdO74I/AAAAAAAAA0o/iKsIbUxZFBA/s400/mantelside2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Some fake greenery also from Nell Hills, reindeer and my Twas the Night Before Christmas book purchased from the North Pole by my parents when they were in Alaska finish out the other side of the mantle.</div>
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I have always tried to keep my tree fairly simple. A couple of years ago I added picture ornaments to my tree and I love them. I love taking a trip down memory lane as we trim the tree. Showing the boys pictures of them when they were younger. I need to get a couple more of the frames I used to make them to add some new pictures this year. I try to add a couple new pics each year. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P1Jf7IfYEfA/Ttbq5r_rBII/AAAAAAAAA1A/_Op15MPib_Q/s1600/tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P1Jf7IfYEfA/Ttbq5r_rBII/AAAAAAAAA1A/_Op15MPib_Q/s400/tree.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bzy1DknKSRU/Ttbqn1oL1PI/AAAAAAAAA04/l7_FiRbod4A/s1600/picture+ornament2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bzy1DknKSRU/Ttbqn1oL1PI/AAAAAAAAA04/l7_FiRbod4A/s400/picture+ornament2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ofPByJQUJ8Y/TtbqWFC2aiI/AAAAAAAAA0w/TdkrXTyMzdM/s1600/picture+ornament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ofPByJQUJ8Y/TtbqWFC2aiI/AAAAAAAAA0w/TdkrXTyMzdM/s400/picture+ornament.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was me like a week before my oldest son was born. It was sweet.... at the time I didn't think I had pregnant face. You sweet blind girl!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And of course we can't forget past years Santa pictures scattered around the house. I love looking back through those. I think we may actually get one with both boys smiling this year..... maybe.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MpM-zlR-mEk/Ttb3lpaqYiI/AAAAAAAAA1I/ZjTW-k3YpHU/s1600/santapics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MpM-zlR-mEk/Ttb3lpaqYiI/AAAAAAAAA1I/ZjTW-k3YpHU/s400/santapics.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Since the decorating is done, I am excited to start our advent activities with the boys tomorrow. This is the first year I have actually gotten around to printing out all of our activities and putting them in the advent calendar I bought... ahem.... three years ago. I tried to focus on activities that would teach them about serving others during the season. Tomorrow we will go through our toys and pick some out for kids who are not completely spoiled!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2qVf65p2KQI/TtbpRLQMZ0I/AAAAAAAAA0Q/Kn41pgmMOgc/s1600/advent+calendar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2qVf65p2KQI/TtbpRLQMZ0I/AAAAAAAAA0Q/Kn41pgmMOgc/s400/advent+calendar.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Have you got all your Christmas stuff up this year??? What kinds of traditions do you have with your family throughout the season? </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11429471987177027913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1532052334945205275.post-27500581041163359512011-11-22T17:27:00.000-08:002011-11-22T17:27:42.523-08:00Christmas pillowsFor the last couple of years I have seen people changing out their pillows through the seasons. Until recently I had the same red leather pottery barn pillows sitting on my couch since my first anniversary...... yeah I just celebrated my 10th. So I started a few months ago with my <a href="http://lori1010-headabovewater.blogspot.com/2011/02/easiest-pillows-ever.html">easy peasy placemat pillows</a> then I made <a href="http://lori1010-headabovewater.blogspot.com/2011/05/pottery-barn-butterfly-pillow.html">these pottery barn knock offs</a>. And let me tell you... since I discovered the beauty of the envelope pillow I have been changing my pillows out almost as often as I change my underwear.... ok that is an exaggeration.... but I change them a lot! If you don't know how to make an envelope pillow LEARN! Here is a <a href="http://www.cluckclucksew.com/2009/10/tutorial-scrap-buster-fall-pillow.html">great tutorial</a> for them. I love them, because not only are they fairly simple, but it makes seasonal changes super easy. Just remove the cover and all you have to store is a small pillow cover!<br />
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</div>Anyway, I wanted some Christmas pillows to add extra festivity! I saw these lovelies from PB!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-398KPufrldQ/TsxHMC3t4aI/AAAAAAAAA0I/iAzJQYMEajg/s1600/pbpillow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-398KPufrldQ/TsxHMC3t4aI/AAAAAAAAA0I/iAzJQYMEajg/s320/pbpillow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Just precious! I figured I could make something similar. Mine don't look much like this one, more like inspired by the concept. I found some cute little knit stocking ornaments for $2.00 each at Target. Then I went to JoAnn's and got some trim for each of my pillows. (I made two) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">They turned out like this...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h7xb9CV_Vu8/TsxFkpSE9CI/AAAAAAAAAzY/nbS3m9fR09U/s1600/greenstockingpillow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h7xb9CV_Vu8/TsxFkpSE9CI/AAAAAAAAAzY/nbS3m9fR09U/s320/greenstockingpillow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--AebsFx6AuQ/TsxGOBGrELI/AAAAAAAAAzo/0HnPrnHXuds/s1600/redstockingpillow1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--AebsFx6AuQ/TsxGOBGrELI/AAAAAAAAAzo/0HnPrnHXuds/s320/redstockingpillow1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The pillows were made from more left over canvas from a drop cloth I had. I used a wide rick rack on the one with green stockings and pom pom trim on the red. I wanted the pom pom trim on both, but they didn't have the right color green so... whatever! I used embroidery thread to stitch on the lines. I bought a big bag of that stuff a year ago or so and it has been a fantastic purchase! Then I just tacked the stockings onto the front.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I still love the simple look of the PB pillow better, but I still like them. They are festive, and the little bells on the stockings even jingle when you move them around! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> On that same Target trip I picked up a couple of placemats to turn into pillows as well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GxNMjmcwMew/TsxG4lARILI/AAAAAAAAAz4/uTAK1SH1cY8/s1600/placematbefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GxNMjmcwMew/TsxG4lARILI/AAAAAAAAAz4/uTAK1SH1cY8/s320/placematbefore.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g1mj-fqhom8/TsxHLce6rEI/AAAAAAAAA0A/txsLbOaogro/s1600/placematpillows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g1mj-fqhom8/TsxHLce6rEI/AAAAAAAAA0A/txsLbOaogro/s320/placematpillows.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It makes me want to start up the Christmas music... but I refuse until after Thursday.... then game on!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11429471987177027913noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1532052334945205275.post-46494113396300644702011-11-14T08:14:00.000-08:002012-02-09T09:22:44.741-08:00stainless steel stove for less<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have lived in our current home for about a year and a half now. We are blessed to have a large, very functional kitchen. While there is nothing actually wrong with the kitchen, I have known since we moved that I wanted to make some changes. Since we made over <a href="http://lori1010-headabovewater.blogspot.com/2011/03/looking-back.html">this kitchen</a> I have fallen in love with bright cheery kitchens. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anyway, I thought I could hold out a while longer, but lately I have really been itching to get started. One of the overwhelming things about starting a kitchen update is the thought that it has to be expensive. Well, I have challenged myself to update our whole kitchen for less than $200! I mean, cabinets, counters and all! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We shall see if it can be done! I mean a kitchen update for less than the cost of a new iPhone??? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, I finished my first project this weekend. I took our two tone (white and black) stove from 1993 to 2011 with........ stainless steel paint! This stove has bugged me from day one! But it works perfectly, so there was no justification for a new one. Not to mention that blows my whole update budget more than three times over!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bQ9QXGPpJdU/TsE3Tq61XrI/AAAAAAAAAyw/7JmwnPTuH_Y/s1600/stovebefore1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bQ9QXGPpJdU/TsE3Tq61XrI/AAAAAAAAAyw/7JmwnPTuH_Y/s320/stovebefore1.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G5jjHRVZFlk/TsE3a5bvIEI/AAAAAAAAAy4/yTuaTZ_ZYjk/s1600/stovebefore2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G5jjHRVZFlk/TsE3a5bvIEI/AAAAAAAAAy4/yTuaTZ_ZYjk/s320/stovebefore2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Enter Thomas' Liquid Stainless Steel. I had read about this stuff a while ago, but my recent itch for an update finally pushed me to make the purchase. It cost $35.00 with shipping. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qGcex8Lkrg4/TsE4E55Tu8I/AAAAAAAAAzI/admey9lryNY/s1600/stovesupplies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qGcex8Lkrg4/TsE4E55Tu8I/AAAAAAAAAzI/admey9lryNY/s320/stovesupplies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I ordered it online (<a href="http://www.liquidstainlesssteel.com/">http://www.liquidstainlesssteel.com/</a>) and got in on Friday. I started the process that night. The first step was to scrub your stove. Then... scrub it again....and again....and again. This step is not fun! I ended up using lemon and baking soda to get all the grease drippings from down the sides of the stove, between the cabinets and stove. It was during this process that I made a very disturbing discovery! Warning... if you have a weak stomach like me.... look away. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8bLXypkuhlM/TsE3zWEOUTI/AAAAAAAAAzA/GUCCW-ddaVA/s1600/stovegross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8bLXypkuhlM/TsE3zWEOUTI/AAAAAAAAAzA/GUCCW-ddaVA/s320/stovegross.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yeah.... this little guy was in a trap that we DID NOT place! Which means he has been back there since well before we moved in! Note to self.... clean behind the stove more often. I was gagging and hubs wasn't home so I had to deal with this myself. My boys found this hilarious! Me.... not so much. I am NOT good with this kind of thing!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anyway.... back to the point! After I figured out a way to dispose of this without ever touching it... or touching anything that touched it (figure that one out). I moved on. Obviously I scrubbed a <strike>little</strike> lot more. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then got started layering on coats of the stainless steel paint. The key to success with this stuff is to paint on VERY thin coats. You actually want to get that streaked look that stainless steel has. So brush on with long deliberate thin strokes. The longest part of this process is waiting for coats to dry. I would brush one on, then go watch an episode of Bones on Netflix, and repeat. Bones episodes are definitely crucial to the process. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I ended up doing 4 or 5 thin coats over all. I let that cure over night. It is supposed to be a minimum of two hours before you add the top coat. I then applied three coats of the clear top coat using the same horizontal strokes. I love the finished product!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OszSSOiTs9c/TsE2g26aQgI/AAAAAAAAAyY/keUIupQRNW4/s1600/stoveafter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OszSSOiTs9c/TsE2g26aQgI/AAAAAAAAAyY/keUIupQRNW4/s320/stoveafter.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See how my cabinets match that pumpkin there? Not for much longer!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-meDKFu7iF0E/TsE2t2uqwzI/AAAAAAAAAyg/HVDDOKJY7ys/s1600/stoveafter2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-meDKFu7iF0E/TsE2t2uqwzI/AAAAAAAAAyg/HVDDOKJY7ys/s320/stoveafter2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d2o40Es2Q6M/TsE3EK6ID_I/AAAAAAAAAyo/J5qEgLfGhx8/s1600/stoveafter3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d2o40Es2Q6M/TsE3EK6ID_I/AAAAAAAAAyo/J5qEgLfGhx8/s320/stoveafter3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stay tuned to see if I can complete my kitchen with the $165 I have left in my budget!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">UPDATE: Read <a href="http://lori1010-headabovewater.blogspot.com/2012/02/is-stainless-steel-paint-for-you.html">here</a> for further information about my experience with this paint. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11429471987177027913noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1532052334945205275.post-89648204199557316812011-11-11T07:12:00.000-08:002011-11-11T07:12:34.199-08:00For the love of Hoodies!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is actually a project I finished a few weeks ago, but in the spirit of refashioning clothes thought I would share. I don't have a tutorial or anything, but if you all are interested, I think I am going to do a batman one similar for my younger son. So let me know and I will try to document the process better. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When it came time to pull out our jackets this season, I realized we didn't have a light weight jacket that fit our older son. I went to Target to check how much it would cost to get a new "cute" jacket. They were $30! I really wasn't up for spending that much on a jacket that wouldn't get us all the way through Missouri's cold winters! So I checked the price of their plain Champion brand hoodies. I think this one was either $10 or $12. Less than half. I also purchased a clorox bleach pen... like $3. Those are the only purchases I made for this jacket.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After I made <a href="http://lori1010-headabovewater.blogspot.com/2011/10/gap-kids-knock-offs.html">these jeans</a> for my younger son. I wanted to do a Super Hero item for my older one as well. I used the bleach pen to draw some designs on the front and the back. The patch is a piece of canvas from a drop cloth. I drew the spider on and filled it in with embroidery. I also embroidered the Spider Man on the back. I love the end results and so does my son!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hLTu9aHiA2U/Tr02WIsIkgI/AAAAAAAAAxo/NRr7GYqZ7ZA/s1600/spiderman+hoodie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hLTu9aHiA2U/Tr02WIsIkgI/AAAAAAAAAxo/NRr7GYqZ7ZA/s320/spiderman+hoodie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Kdw9S5gppY/Tr02nDYtQiI/AAAAAAAAAxw/tKzD7JooJ-E/s1600/spiderman+hoodie2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Kdw9S5gppY/Tr02nDYtQiI/AAAAAAAAAxw/tKzD7JooJ-E/s320/spiderman+hoodie2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tzFmdVFVt2c/Tr027vJS9FI/AAAAAAAAAx4/BTGGWmIFv3s/s1600/spiderman+hoodie3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tzFmdVFVt2c/Tr027vJS9FI/AAAAAAAAAx4/BTGGWmIFv3s/s320/spiderman+hoodie3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--8jKqvByxWs/Tr03N3DisBI/AAAAAAAAAyA/cwd_TzQwSrM/s1600/spiderman+hoodie4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--8jKqvByxWs/Tr03N3DisBI/AAAAAAAAAyA/cwd_TzQwSrM/s320/spiderman+hoodie4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-73Uy1EsyuIk/Tr03g1KywsI/AAAAAAAAAyI/_q8ueNgZSYI/s1600/spiderman+hoodie6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-73Uy1EsyuIk/Tr03g1KywsI/AAAAAAAAAyI/_q8ueNgZSYI/s320/spiderman+hoodie6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e-8ZtMiVPC4/Tr06uMMWZQI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/Josv9ehxee8/s1600/pumpkin+patch5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e-8ZtMiVPC4/Tr06uMMWZQI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/Josv9ehxee8/s320/pumpkin+patch5.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here he is wearing it on his first field trip!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11429471987177027913noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1532052334945205275.post-30411860626907852872011-11-10T09:06:00.000-08:002011-11-10T09:06:38.667-08:00Sweater remake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There is something about fall that makes me dig through my closet and scrap basket in the craft room and start playing match maker with items from each! I think it has something to do with the combination of high priced sweaters and spending more time inside because of the weather changes. Who knows... But I have a couple of fun projects to share. The first one is a simple target sweater remade into a lacy cardi with fun elbow patches.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is what I started with:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0-tUiMnvv9Q/Trv7I4JH2XI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/hq6-s_4eKTw/s1600/cardiredo5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0-tUiMnvv9Q/Trv7I4JH2XI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/hq6-s_4eKTw/s320/cardiredo5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">The first step is the scariest one..... Fold the sweater in half and cut right up the middle with a good pair of scissors. It is at this point that you run around the house like a loon saying things like..."What is wrong with me??? I just destroyed a perfectly good sweater???"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tE0dMN-9Xio/Trv7Z1aBS7I/AAAAAAAAAwY/qUgTHt5HhX8/s1600/cardiredo6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tE0dMN-9Xio/Trv7Z1aBS7I/AAAAAAAAAwY/qUgTHt5HhX8/s320/cardiredo6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ok, now calm down.... start digging through the scrap basket to see what you have on hand....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aBSjWn1CCdM/Trv7lznTSwI/AAAAAAAAAwg/wvj7-f2e3N8/s1600/cardiredo7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aBSjWn1CCdM/Trv7lznTSwI/AAAAAAAAAwg/wvj7-f2e3N8/s320/cardiredo7.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Find some lace and ruffle it. You can do this on your machine, but I chose to do it by hand. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then I pinned it onto the sweater and at the same time pinned the hem in place. Pinning is essential!!! Between the knit and the lace it would be very difficult to wing it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rcDJA4xE0Qk/TrwBFEoN4CI/AAAAAAAAAxg/P99QkgqxYAI/s1600/cardiredo11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rcDJA4xE0Qk/TrwBFEoN4CI/AAAAAAAAAxg/P99QkgqxYAI/s320/cardiredo11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I could have stopped here and I think it still would have been cute.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mqSP-pglzXU/Trv9DUZgMzI/AAAAAAAAAxY/zVNgaQ4TOXU/s1600/cardiredo4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mqSP-pglzXU/Trv9DUZgMzI/AAAAAAAAAxY/zVNgaQ4TOXU/s320/cardiredo4.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But I wanted a little more detail. Upon shopping at the local resale shop I came across this cute t-shirt.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BC-O54QdOCQ/Trv7x8zxqpI/AAAAAAAAAwo/3fRB3IG4du8/s1600/cardiredo8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BC-O54QdOCQ/Trv7x8zxqpI/AAAAAAAAAwo/3fRB3IG4du8/s320/cardiredo8.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I thought the little patches would be cute on the elbow of the new cardigan. I forgot to take a picture before I cut my patches of choice. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I attached a patch to each elbow. I tried just stitching them directly on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PzL9bZ13t1Q/Trv8IV3pAII/AAAAAAAAAww/SS7aTnE2kx8/s1600/cardiredo9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PzL9bZ13t1Q/Trv8IV3pAII/AAAAAAAAAww/SS7aTnE2kx8/s320/cardiredo9.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The fabric was too flimsy to work so I found some heat n bond in my stash and attached them that way. Then ran embroidery thread around the edges.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6-feBn2ItAs/Trv8ZhcTQKI/AAAAAAAAAw4/pAc2H34DW2Y/s1600/cardiredo10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6-feBn2ItAs/Trv8ZhcTQKI/AAAAAAAAAw4/pAc2H34DW2Y/s320/cardiredo10.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For one final bit of detail I ran some embroidery thread in four rows around the cuff of the sweater. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is the finished product. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Warning: Lame pictures to follow!!! Hubs has been really busy lately so I took my own "modeling pictures" in our mirror. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mPskegx5Qws/Trv8gH-LqWI/AAAAAAAAAxA/xbiY7pAt0Zw/s1600/cardiredo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mPskegx5Qws/Trv8gH-LqWI/AAAAAAAAAxA/xbiY7pAt0Zw/s320/cardiredo.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stop laughing! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QwywQoWzX1o/Trv8oalrPgI/AAAAAAAAAxI/WXA8ZKgbQZo/s1600/cardiredo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QwywQoWzX1o/Trv8oalrPgI/AAAAAAAAAxI/WXA8ZKgbQZo/s320/cardiredo2.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I mean it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Pw6nX2xKc8/Trv87UnkGJI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/Y0DbOwGgTbQ/s1600/cardiredo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Pw6nX2xKc8/Trv87UnkGJI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/Y0DbOwGgTbQ/s320/cardiredo3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anyway. Now that your gut is busted... go find something of your own to remake!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11429471987177027913noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1532052334945205275.post-66256183191988138382011-11-04T07:13:00.000-07:002011-11-04T09:13:05.622-07:00Simple and Cheap wall baskets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have been eyeing something like this beauty for a while now. I love the idea of carrying storage up onto the wall rather than being limited by what will fit onto your surfaces. While the basket below is a beauty, the price was a little out of my range... especially if I wanted more than one. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ntgMmaX15vo/TrPuJGpNfFI/AAAAAAAAAwI/LvGK-P-nnQc/s1600/wall+basket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ntgMmaX15vo/TrPuJGpNfFI/AAAAAAAAAwI/LvGK-P-nnQc/s320/wall+basket.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Enter... the target dollar spot! Not exactly the place you expect to find a Ballard Design knock off. But when you are on a budget you learn not to rule anyplace out when looking for cheaper alternatives. Do you know how many talented bloggers out there have filled their homes with beautifully reworked items from the dollar store???? So, back at Halloween time I spotted these babies.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gezhrEX6z74/TrPuBE-OWuI/AAAAAAAAAv4/zo1qoNOUXuc/s1600/basket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gezhrEX6z74/TrPuBE-OWuI/AAAAAAAAAv4/zo1qoNOUXuc/s320/basket.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Notice the little ghost and everything on the basket. Now I am not entirely sure what made these baskets.... halloweeny. But they were $2.50 per basket. I walked past them on multiple trips to Target thinking how much I liked them. And then finally I was like.... they are $2.50 per basket!!! Just get them!<br />
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So I did. And I hung three of them on my wall behind my desk for collecting mail and other random items that find themselves laying around on my desk.<br />
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The only problem with these if you can tell from the above picture is that the bottoms only have wires going horizontally so mail and small items would slip right through. Hmm... what to do, what to do! Oh I know I call on my ever present super hero life saver....... Burlap! Come on.... you knew it was coming! I cut three little rectangles to line the bottom and voila!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pRklXuJo5z0/TrPuIj1tEgI/AAAAAAAAAwA/LQs4DutAjzc/s1600/basket2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pRklXuJo5z0/TrPuIj1tEgI/AAAAAAAAAwA/LQs4DutAjzc/s320/basket2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>Then, just because they still looked a little naked to me, I found some numbered tags at the local scrapbooking store to dress up the fronts a little.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NyYYPkTUvqs/TrPtuCRaRsI/AAAAAAAAAvw/tELGlaYGq6w/s1600/wall+baskets+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NyYYPkTUvqs/TrPtuCRaRsI/AAAAAAAAAvw/tELGlaYGq6w/s320/wall+baskets+final.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>And for less than $10.00 I have pretty little hanging baskets for storage. Now, these are much smaller than the Ballard Design baskets and not quite as charming, but they work well for my purposes.<br />
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So do you want to see a picture of my beautifully cleared off desktop???????<br />
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Too Bad!!! I don't have one to show you! Baby steps people.... baby steps!Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11429471987177027913noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1532052334945205275.post-27709098382528171262011-10-26T11:36:00.000-07:002011-10-26T11:36:49.005-07:00Angry Bird obsession continued!!As mentioned in <a href="http://lori1010-headabovewater.blogspot.com/2011/09/angry-birds.html">this post</a> my boys are currently obsessed with all things Angry Birds. After having bought a couple of costumes at the store for Halloween, they changed their minds and wanted to be Angry Birds instead! Of course they do! Since I am a sucker for home made costumes instead of the off the rack ones, I gladly obliged. I don't feel like I wasted money either. Seriously, boys wear costumes ALL the time, so the store bought ones will get plenty of use!<br />
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Fortunately, I am so very blessed with creative family members who are almost always willing to help when they are around. My younger sis came into town this last weekend and was wonderful to lend a hand in creating these "masterpieces". :) There is not a tutorial for this since, like most of my projects, it was a make it up as we go kind of thing. We went to JoAnn's and bought a couple of yards of black and blue felt off the bolt and then a few pieces of different color felt from the craft section of the store.<br />
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These are what we came up with!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ADitcKwMGxE/TqhSNPn56ZI/AAAAAAAAAtM/U1VvGNUYwp0/s1600/blueangrybird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ADitcKwMGxE/TqhSNPn56ZI/AAAAAAAAAtM/U1VvGNUYwp0/s320/blueangrybird.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Because on the game the blue bird becomes three I made a little stuffed one and his treat bag is also a blue angry bird!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j57P1Tdl2bw/TqhSloyXOoI/AAAAAAAAAtU/6zxltPdoBbo/s1600/blueangrybird2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j57P1Tdl2bw/TqhSloyXOoI/AAAAAAAAAtU/6zxltPdoBbo/s320/blueangrybird2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jVwoax-Pe54/TqhQtC3ZPkI/AAAAAAAAAs0/_mjpzF8snbg/s1600/angrybirdscostumes1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jVwoax-Pe54/TqhQtC3ZPkI/AAAAAAAAAs0/_mjpzF8snbg/s320/angrybirdscostumes1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">couldn't get my little black bird to put his marshmallow down long enough for the picture!<br />
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Thanks again little sis!!! Couldn't have done it without you!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11429471987177027913noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1532052334945205275.post-70322503271631150122011-10-14T12:23:00.000-07:002011-10-20T12:38:06.884-07:00Gap kids knock offs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A while back my husband and I were looking through Gap kids looking for clothes for our older son. Mostly because we had a gift card. Now, I love me some Gap kids clothes, but our kids are WAY too hard on their clothes to justify paying their prices. Anyway, they had an adorable line of Super Hero clothes, including beat up jeans with Super hero logos and what not. I decided to take a pair of jeans that already had a hole in them and try my hand at a copy-cat pair.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the pair I was using as inspiration </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/325570713/">http://pinterest.com/pin/325570713/</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fl44h9T0sdo/TpiGQXdX5CI/AAAAAAAAArw/kVzjpwP5ej8/s1600/_MG_0739_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fl44h9T0sdo/TpiGQXdX5CI/AAAAAAAAArw/kVzjpwP5ej8/s320/_MG_0739_edited-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what I started with.</td></tr>
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I ironed some fabric I had on hand onto the shiny side freezer paper and cut it down to the size of a regular piece of paper. I then found a retro image of Super Man on Google images and printed it straight onto the fabric.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-24VDVS0UZrY/TpiGfgKLuZI/AAAAAAAAAr4/5YIZkMQufnE/s1600/_MG_0741_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-24VDVS0UZrY/TpiGfgKLuZI/AAAAAAAAAr4/5YIZkMQufnE/s320/_MG_0741_edited-1.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I cut the piece of fabric down to size and sewed it into the hole in the jeans. Not gonna lie.... that was the hardest part. I think they are skinny jeans so they barely fit over my sewing machine, let alone did I have space to move it around to sew all the way around the patch. But, with some finagling and persistence.... I finally got it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I used some of the Tulip fabric paint markers for some of the other embellishments on this project. LOVE these things!</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After I got the patch in place, I added a little POW and Superman's famous quote "More powerful than a locomotive"</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1BP4EzVCDVM/TpiHW_lm-4I/AAAAAAAAAsQ/0BLoMOxhdiE/s1600/_MG_0744_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1BP4EzVCDVM/TpiHW_lm-4I/AAAAAAAAAsQ/0BLoMOxhdiE/s400/_MG_0744_edited-1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I also added a little Superman emblem on the opposite leg.</div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My little super hero modeling</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H7kYGXXfNAE/TpiH8Zv3ApI/AAAAAAAAAsg/154XueyT48A/s1600/_MG_0750_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H7kYGXXfNAE/TpiH8Zv3ApI/AAAAAAAAAsg/154XueyT48A/s400/_MG_0750_edited-1.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Totally had to bribe him with chocolate to get him to do this for me!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uYWAO868c6c/TpiIN0l4IeI/AAAAAAAAAso/WWDS2Cmtygw/s1600/_MG_0752_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uYWAO868c6c/TpiIN0l4IeI/AAAAAAAAAso/WWDS2Cmtygw/s400/_MG_0752_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Update: There was a question about weather or not the ink from the printer would hold up after a wash and the answer is yes! I just got them out of the dryer and Super Man is unaltered! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am pretty pleased with how they turned out. I am only nervous about the fact that I realized too late that I had not pre-washed the patch fabric. Yikes! I hope they hold up after a washing or two!</div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11429471987177027913noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1532052334945205275.post-80372041331577943472011-10-07T11:05:00.000-07:002011-10-07T11:05:38.911-07:00Personalized home art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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</div>I am big on making the items I use to accessorize my home personal. Over the past few years we have moved more often than we planned to. We have now purchase three different homes. I am very much hoping that this one is more permanent than the last two ended up being. But each of those homes have been special to us, if for different reasons. The first home.... well obviously, was the first home we purchased as a couple. We felt like such "grown ups" when we accomplished that. In our next home we tackled updating an older home which had been a dream of both of ours. We did our first kitchen makeover and floor refinishing. So I wanted to include a small reminder of those homes here in this house.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N2Hu9rHucek/To87h2fnfLI/AAAAAAAAArk/AMD4PZiX7Ig/s1600/homesign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N2Hu9rHucek/To87h2fnfLI/AAAAAAAAArk/AMD4PZiX7Ig/s320/homesign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I had the three picture frame laying around unused. I took a picture of the front of each of our three homes and edited with Adobe using the pencil sketch filter. I just place the pictures in and put small labels with the street address under each picture. I found the tiny keys at a scrapbook store and thought they would make a cute accent. At the top is a larger lable with a quote "There is nothing half so pleasant as coming home again." On the left is an extra scussion plate from the house we fixed up. On the right are just some vintage keys my husband's Grandma gave me.<br />
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Here are some close up pictures of each house.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our current home</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D4stqruAM-M/To87N0Q1UlI/AAAAAAAAArY/2D5GMtU5kaI/s1600/_MG_0298_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D4stqruAM-M/To87N0Q1UlI/AAAAAAAAArY/2D5GMtU5kaI/s320/_MG_0298_edited-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The older home we fixed up</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ijBUWywSozw/To87UVQurHI/AAAAAAAAArc/YSppF9hhVJM/s1600/_MG_0299_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ijBUWywSozw/To87UVQurHI/AAAAAAAAArc/YSppF9hhVJM/s320/_MG_0299_edited-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first home.</td></tr>
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It is just a small way to include a little of our family history.<br />
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