Merry Christmas and Last Minute Decor Projects

Can you believe Christmas is tomorrow and 2011 is like a week away? Wow, this year went by FAST, don't you think?

And speaking of time going by too fast, I still have holiday projects to complete. I don't think I will get them done by tomorrow, but I guess I can start prepping for next Christmas. Hee hee.


About three weeks ago, I bought these cute frosted, glass pine cone ornaments at Goodwill. When I came across them, I immediately imagined them mixed in a glass vase with other ornaments. Then a week later, I came across these silver, plastic pine cone ornaments at the same Goodwill. I liked the glass ones a lot and wasn't sure if I wanted the plastic ones. Then all of a sudden, Ding, ding, ding - light bulb! Can I make them pink? Well, it looked easy to do, but it didn't go as PERFECTLY planned. I primed them before I spray painted them pink. HOWEVER, they turned orange. Not only did they turn orange, they started to bubble and crack. I was sooooo disappointed. I dreaded sanding them down, but decide to give them a quick coat of pink paint. It worked. The orange disappeared, but, of course, the cracklies did not. But hey, I didn't give up. I decided to add glitter glue to the cones petals. That was magic. The glitter glue practically covered up most of the cracklies. yeah!!!! So now they are hanging from my little tree.



At the same time I found the silver, plastic pine cones, I found this adorable pink skirt. The minute I saw it, I knew it was coming home with me. But, wearing it is currently not an option....well, at least for now. I decided it was going to be this year's tree skirt. I've been looking for a tree skirt that would match my tree's decor. I've seen white and silver, white and gold, pink and gold, and more gold-mixed tree skirts. And if I did see a pink tree skirt, it didn't appeal to me. This skirt will do for this Christmas, but I've already imagined next year's skirt. I've drawn it down and plan on making it next month. Yes, next month. As you can see in the pic, Buttercup likes my tree skirt too.


This year I had to find stockings for my boys. I already have stockings for them, but I may have misplaced or tossed them during the move this year. More likely misplaced them; nevertheless, I immediately bought a Star Wars stocking for Lance. As for Tristan, I did hit a roadblock. When I asked him what color and style of stocking he wanted, he said skeletons or zombies. Skeletons-zombies-Christmas, ummm, ok? Anyhoo, I decided that if that's what he wanted, that is what he is going to get. I drew up a design and a pattern on tissue paper. All I need was the fabric. I went to three different fabric stores and found nada. I then decided to go on ebay. Ebay has everything, I know I will find it there. Well, before I could, I found a flannel blanket with skeletons at Big Lots for $3. This stocking is not completely done, it still needs a bell and some buttons, but it'll do for now. When Tristan saw his stocking, I think I heard "awesome, cool, rockin, mama,you're the best" way more than I expected. BTW, Grandma sewed up the stocking. Mama, you're the best, you rock, and I love you!



Well, I best be going. I have yet to wrap up any presents. Yikes!!

Again, Merry Christmas and God Bless!!

Toodlepeeps.

I'll be sharing at Cindy's Romantic Home.

A couple of Mini Projects to share

It's been a while since I last blogged. Just when I thought I was done with a project or dilemma, well, let's just say I feel like I'm playing my kid's whack-a-mole game. I hit one mole and another one pops up. But isn't life like a whack-a-mole game?

To start off my blog, I want to say if you own a digital camera, don't forget to download your photos onto your computer or print them asap. Two weeks ago, one of two guilty parties (My niece or Lance) deleted the photo files in my camera. Pictures from Tristan's first day of second grade, Halloween, Lance's birthday, decorating projects etc were deleted. Let me tell you, I cried for days and kicked myself multiple times for not saving them on to my computer. These visual memories were deleted, trashed, wiped out, purged....you name it. Sure, I will always have those memories in my head, but it would have been so nice to have them on paper too or even saved on disc. Ho hum.

Well, the last coupule of weeks, I completed a handful of projects, but I'll only show and tell two of them today. I'll also be sharing them on Cindy's Romantic Home Show and Tell Friday.

The first project I'm sharing is a coffee filter wreath. I was inspired by the many blogged filter wreaths (they are so adorable). So I jumped on that wreath wagon. For two days, I enjoyed soaking and drying my coffee filters and glueing and poofing up my wreath.I also added pearl picks to it. This was an easy project. Even a novice craft person can do this.. so give it a try. Tada!

I was thinking pink for my next coffee filter wreath! Can't wait to share that one.

The second project I'm sharing is a wooden jewelry box. My coworker, Cathy, gave this copper painted jewelry box with rhinestone charm on top and four purple fleur-de-lis stenciled on it (Sadly, the pic for this box was deleted). The colors didn't go with my bedroom color scheme, so I decided to give it a paint job. I spent two days working on this box. I sanded the fleur-de-lis off (I don't recommend hand sanding)and painted it pink. I didn't want to prime it because I actually wanted the copper to peak through when I sanded it for that distressed look. I glued rhinestone charms on the drawer handles. Once it was completed on the outside, I decided it wasn't made for jewelry, it was made for silverware. I have one more step to do which is lining the inside with contact paper, felt, or decoupaging it with decorative paper. Until then, here you go.

Here's a sample of the copper paint the box was painted in.



Very girly, don't you think?

I do have two more mini projects and the many flea market/thrift store finds I need to show and tell. Maybe in a couple of days.

Until then..

Toodlepeeps.

Fun October Mini Projects

I have been quite busy these past two weeks; however, I did manage to squeeze in some mini projects. I must say I was very delighted to get them done. A corner of my dining room has a pile of "things to do asap". I can't stand looking at it anymore. I've got to get moving on them, so I felt really good when I completed these three projects. Yeah!

Let's see. Let's start with this pillow project.

This mini pillowcase has been sitting in my project bin for a couple of years now. I wanted to use it in the gazebo when I completed it, but as you know, the gazebo is gone. While sifting through the project bin, I came across this pillowcase. I don't recall my plans for it, but I decided now was the time to do something with it. This pillowcase was plain and white, but overnight it became pretty and pink. I just dyed the pillowcase pink, tufted it, and sewed on buttons. Look how cute. I can't wait to use it next summer in my condo patio.




My second project I worked on was this chandy. A wonderful friend of mine, Cathy, found this at a city-wide garage sale and bought it for me for $2. I was delighted! I wanted to change my foyer lighting fixture with a chandy and this was perfect for it.

First, I removed the frosted, glass lampshades. BTW, I will be using the lampshades for a future mini project. Second, I then drilled holes on the arms for the crystals I wanted to add on. Third, I spray painted it gold and a little bit of antique glazing. Fourth, I added on the crystals and last, I installed it. It looks fab. Now, that ugly ring around the chandy base will disappear. I plan to spongepaint that area very soon, but I was too excited to show this chandy off.




So, the last project I completed was painting two plaster wall planters. Check them out.


These babies were waiting to be painted for months now. All I did was spray painted them gold. Less than ten minutes worth of work. So why did it take me this long to get to them? hmmmm. I was going to use them in my bathroom. One was going to hold hand towels while the other was going to hold mini soaps, but something bigger replaced that idea. I've got to post that big idea soon(hint: wine rack) So for now, they are just decorative wall pieces in my bedroom.
>


Well, that's it for now. I will be working on two projects this weekend. Hopefully, I will get them done so that I can post them up.

Until then, see you on Transformation Thursday and Cindy's Show and Tell Friday.

Toodlepeeps.

Tassels and Fringe

What a week it has been!

My back gave out on me leaving me bedridden (Ovey!), I've been car-less (my car is getting a bumper replacement), Captain Rex (a Clone Trooper) has been running amuck in the house (where's my blaster?), and the laundry is piling up; HOWEVER, I did manage to squeeze in two mini projects. So let me share.

For starters, every time I walk into my home, the first thing I see is my sofa. When I see it, I also see this:


Ugh! I hate seeing this clutter. It bugs me. It's been bugging me. Oh, What to do? Well, I couldn't take it anymore. So I went and bought some velcro and two yards of tassel fringe online. It only took me five minutes to get this project done, but it looks waaay better. It now covers what I don't like flashing at me at every opening; it's a perfect disquise to my stashes.



Second, I created two tiebacks for my dining room curtains. I purchased two rhinestone charms at Michaels and two adorable key tassels on ebay. All I did was glue them together and added a ribbon to each of them. They look adorable. I like them so much, I'm thinking about creating two more for the room. In fact, I really like the key tassels so much, I think I'm going to add them to two more of my projects...hmm, maybe more.





That's all I could squeeze in, but I can't wait to share last week's fab finds...
or say future projects.... in the next day or two.

Until then, see you on Show & Tell Friday at Cindy's.

Toodlepeeps.

An "Awesome" Desk Chair

This year, Tristan decided that skateboards, console/computer games, Legos, and zombies/skeletons are cooler than Spiderman and all his other kiddie toys. As for Lance, he's just into Legos and Star Wars. Both Tristan and Lance now have very little interest in toys which I am secretly happy about. I don't mean that in a bad way, I mean it in a good way. I mean I just don't have to gripe about toys all over the house. This change finally means clearing out their room of all those kiddie toys and having a garage (toy) sale. It also means Tristan wants a "cool" looking room. So we are working together for that cool look he is seeking. And because both boys share a room, we have decided that black, silver, red, and blue will do for both of them.

My first project for the boy's room was this chair they needed for their desk.

It's an old collapsible chair I got from a friend's estate sale. I decided that this chair would be a perfect fit for the boy's desk than a computer task chair. So for two days, I sanded, primed, and painted it for that "cool" look. I also added a "cool" feature that my boys loved. I got an "awesome" response. I was so tickled pink! Here it is:


The skeleton feature is a wooden plaque I purchased at Michaels. The minute I saw it, I knew it was made for the chair. I'm not sure I will be adding anymore skeleton features in the bedroom, but I must admit this was a good idea. Plus, the boys loved it!

The next project in their room will most likely be their drabby wardrobe closet. Hmmm....

Until then, I'm off to another mini project.

Toodlepeeps.

See you at Show n Tell Friday at Cindy's>

Halloween Crafts

So last week, the boys and I decided to do some Halloween crafts. I've never been a big fan of Halloween decorating, but this year I decided I'll try just a bit. Tiny steps.

The boys decided to create mini, black styrofoam spiders. The craft supplies included in this project were styrofoam balls, black spray paint, glue, black pipe cleaners, and wiggly eyes. All I did was spray painted the styrofoam balls black and cut the pipe cleaner to size. The rest was left for the boys. They glued on the eyes and attached the pipe cleaner legs to the styrofoam balls. This is what they created.





A very simple craft project that took us a total of 30 minutes. And they enjoyed it. This weekend, I'm going to hot glue them to my glass candy jar and hang them from my living room chandelier. I'll try to remember to post pics.

While they were creating spiders, I was in the backyard spray painting pumpkins and candeliers.


I saw these candeliers at Michaels and wanted them, but decided to hold off. I'm glad I did because I found them at Target for $2.50 each. Michaels wanted $4.99 each and they were black. I saved myself $5; HOWEVER, I did not like the color. So they rec'd a coat of black paint and voila!


Well, my spray painting didn't end there. I had two more things to spray paint. Check out these petit pumpkins.

I bought them at my local dollar store, Dollar Tree, for a buck each. Now, I've seen a lot of pink and creamy pumpkins floating around on many wonderful blogspots, so I decided I wanted some too. So I pulled out my handy dandy cream and pink spray paints and sprayed away. Here they are inside a glass cloche. Not so scary for Halloween, but hey, who said Halloween had to be creepy???


I'm not sure what other Halloween decor plans I might have, but this is just a start.

See you on Show & Tell Friday at Cindy's Romantic Home/

Until then,

Toodlepeeps.

My Decorative Bowl Idea

About five years ago, I bought this metal candle holder for my dining table. The glass bowl that went with it broke while I was washing it. So the metal base sat in the project bin for quite some time. I knew someday I would find a bowl that would fit perfectly inside of this metal base. I searched a year for a bowl at the thrift stores and flea markets but gave up. So into the storage bin it sat.



Then one day, while sifting through many of my back copies of Romantic Homes magazine, I had an idea. I went straight to ebay. You can literally find almost anything there. So for less than $20, I found this.


Put them together, and you get this.


My lonely metal base is now partnered with a vintage, pink glass lampshade. I think they go great together. Just because something seems useless without its original companion piece, improvise. I'm glad I kept the base.

Until then,

Toodlepeeps.

Mini Project #2

This little cast iron mirror/jewelry box sat on my bedroom dresser for a year or two now. When I saw this on sale at a thrift store, I knew it was coming home with me. I never really did like the color until today. All it needed was a little paint and jewelry. And now, it looks like this.



Isn't he such a cutie?


I painted it ivory and did a dry brush antiquing method. It turned out nicely. I then decided to give it a bit of glamour by adding the pearl brooch to the top of the mirror. Now this little mirror sits in my guest bathroom.


Well, another mini project completed and posted on Cindy's Show and Tell Friday.

Toodlepeeps.

Thrifty Finds

I posted earlier this month my petite armoire I found at my local Goodwill. I'm still excited about that piece. Heeheehee. I also have my eye on a mini bookcase on Craigslist. I am crossing my fingers I will get it in the next day or two. However, my luck hasn't stopped there with the armoire. Here are my latest finds for this month so far.




By the way, that little white cup is a mustache/child/invalid cup. My youngest son thought the cup was so cute, he's claimed it as his teacup. How cute!!!



I also found a mini chest to hide them pesky game consoles and games my boys keep leaving all over the floor. I've tried training them to put them away in our T.V. armoire after every use, but they are boys....always around the armoire, but never in the armoire. So I bought them a wooden chest. It's working. I don't have a picture to show, but it'll definitely be a project post because I simply can't leave it plain.

I am currently working on two mini projects right now, and I can't wait to get them posted. Hopefully next week as I need to find me some pink, matching rhinestone earrings.

Until then,

Toodlepeeps.