tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34891087420441121292024-03-13T10:34:42.509-07:00We Could Make ThatIf someone else can make it, so can I, right?! Well.......Me Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02217022145109147260noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489108742044112129.post-30426379822260523892023-04-13T15:40:00.001-07:002023-04-13T15:40:26.094-07:00Patio Chair Updo<p> I love many things about our move back to Houston from Phoenix five years ago. I love being close enough to my in-law family for a morning brunch or surprise birthday dinner instead of being a plane ride away. I love seeing armadillos, gators and possums in my neighborhood. I love Mexican food, Tex-Mex food and everything that is bigger just because it's Texas. </p><p>I hate mosquitoes, the lack of mountains in my daily view and the humidity that destroys everything from my hair to my patio chairs. </p><p><br /></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUrZ0EvpT3GaIwyMlNclxjEVtVaXoze19_bubJHdg38v_Dpp8slJOSBswIUi7wrW-qcl0jUYyZRwpyTuLeAmnksmMZeJK5XYTwbDG_yY9ztoi0DoM7jJ-NmsRuhA2qrsK0kqcGPf9vrJfv7dd1wpYYIJ57c5wbdB4N-pHXzZFAu8_tAsJEREgjII/s4032/IMG_2103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUrZ0EvpT3GaIwyMlNclxjEVtVaXoze19_bubJHdg38v_Dpp8slJOSBswIUi7wrW-qcl0jUYyZRwpyTuLeAmnksmMZeJK5XYTwbDG_yY9ztoi0DoM7jJ-NmsRuhA2qrsK0kqcGPf9vrJfv7dd1wpYYIJ57c5wbdB4N-pHXzZFAu8_tAsJEREgjII/w149-h198/IMG_2103.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Humidity+ Salt= Ugly Chairs</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Not only do we have the humidity, but the house we moved into also has a saltwater pool. Great for the skin, eyes and hair. Horrible for patio chairs. The gorgeous rocker chairs we bought from Cabela's years ago (That lasted through many an Arizona summer) look like a junkyard find. My clearance IKEA table purchased the same time, though? Still hanging in like a champ!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>I didn't want to spend a ton on replacement chairs. Whatever I bought was sure to get destroyed by both our weather and pool. That's when I spotted these beauties on my local VarageSale site. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmU91VD3mu5EnRIP9E7SAcXnj0rzdkZQo7epfdzaC2vTudIpcMAIgv7I5QIDR0HQut7tnYMTgDJYz6wqmk1gQU8wdvefDt5nwDwP-P1XvZ03cMBKpZX9r8S9U5P9p68fuJZ4-2bbwYklDPzgBT9nZvSzf8po7_iOZoV3_U2QrbzBUy6GxtrCHrRew/s4032/IMG_1570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmU91VD3mu5EnRIP9E7SAcXnj0rzdkZQo7epfdzaC2vTudIpcMAIgv7I5QIDR0HQut7tnYMTgDJYz6wqmk1gQU8wdvefDt5nwDwP-P1XvZ03cMBKpZX9r8S9U5P9p68fuJZ4-2bbwYklDPzgBT9nZvSzf8po7_iOZoV3_U2QrbzBUy6GxtrCHrRew/s320/IMG_1570.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My VarageSale beauties</div><p>You don't see the beauty in these? You sure?! But they swivel AND rock! And, best of all, they were $30 for all four. (Only two shown here. Obvs.)</p><p>After borrowing a friends truck (and her husband to lift heavy things), I brought those chairs home to find that they fit perfectly around my crappy-will-not-die-but-thats-okay-who-needs-west-elm-anyways IKEA table. It's like they were meant to be there. </p><p>But they were a little ugly. After washing them down with Dawn and drying in the sun, I went over all the cracked pieces with a sanding block and gently sanded most of the arms and legs. A few pieces broke off larger than I expected, but I was able to sand the edges down enough that I was satisfied no more would come off. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5XhcqCjb2mxuWJqBO686zDcnCBBK5Cx8CmDZUrOj64gSUn9yzLObELe4jbNZ0FYh6aNyZmg68RttHouDjJc6fqe7D4x4gPvCexElfb5sPVkPkEFNZluV8MBlcisJkP_ppDEJwZ_qOvzH3uB_FTzcQ9tL0lwv8oUMpX5h8RReZipv74V2AYPgKKs/s4032/IMG_1571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5XhcqCjb2mxuWJqBO686zDcnCBBK5Cx8CmDZUrOj64gSUn9yzLObELe4jbNZ0FYh6aNyZmg68RttHouDjJc6fqe7D4x4gPvCexElfb5sPVkPkEFNZluV8MBlcisJkP_ppDEJwZ_qOvzH3uB_FTzcQ9tL0lwv8oUMpX5h8RReZipv74V2AYPgKKs/s320/IMG_1571.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yikes! Look at the chunk out of that one!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Then I began prepping. </p><p>Prepping suuuucccckkks. It takes so much time, and it's not fun at all. I used newspaper and painters tape to tape off the fabric seat of the chair. It worked....at first. After a few minutes, the painters tape didn't stick too well and I found that there were gaps between the newspaper and the arm of the chair. Honestly, I didn't care. If I was using a distinctly obvious color like blue or green, maybe, but Dark Walnut wasn't going to make much of difference, I don't think. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPttbB--6odQcmhDg8oe6dlVcT96rNlcNi6T3YJFUhg1D9qX433fsN7NzA9PkLo7RhuyiB0WHzXHDCRZqOLEdNlTsag9fBKanX8TyadJ4BcWq7_a08x6Q78k0UQmURSjHG-_CFLufTuncJJ_yg-MX6Wufv1MJVQwul31X4eMcUUMGcnpEJS5T_bA/s4032/IMG_2094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPttbB--6odQcmhDg8oe6dlVcT96rNlcNi6T3YJFUhg1D9qX433fsN7NzA9PkLo7RhuyiB0WHzXHDCRZqOLEdNlTsag9fBKanX8TyadJ4BcWq7_a08x6Q78k0UQmURSjHG-_CFLufTuncJJ_yg-MX6Wufv1MJVQwul31X4eMcUUMGcnpEJS5T_bA/s320/IMG_2094.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Probably should have spend more time making sure the tape and paper stayed down.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I prepped. And I spray painted. Prepped again. Painted some more. All four chairs together took 4 full cans of spray paint. And almost a month. Because I will do nothing for two weeks and then two chairs in a day and then....nothing, for another two weeks. </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0sRNUTZ22wWiDLAJjBnTkAfU-xMFONm3G8XecqAzY2kRSEkfhp7uxqpLQ2JkqJNxqsVZZBqr1e2bVcjVKWoMIpNG7VGcDouX-aIzINDnok3eEKu4D6iqwaoZGmT-O6KoBgjW7iXQM-eknIdpV-2GafO9e11LjDK0noAkR6MvDvZAP__bQDnskpYM/s4032/IMG_2101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0sRNUTZ22wWiDLAJjBnTkAfU-xMFONm3G8XecqAzY2kRSEkfhp7uxqpLQ2JkqJNxqsVZZBqr1e2bVcjVKWoMIpNG7VGcDouX-aIzINDnok3eEKu4D6iqwaoZGmT-O6KoBgjW7iXQM-eknIdpV-2GafO9e11LjDK0noAkR6MvDvZAP__bQDnskpYM/s320/IMG_2101.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><p></p><p>Why yes, I did take the lazy way out and painted on my grass. It will grow out eventually! </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AWKMQyYIyuSuQp7EY_OkidpszdtL_b0OjVCQUo5qRk3F5rphIUa8sRF_o-3iYvZ9e83jUcIFIF0t5xQ9PQixLn6NxGG8WPGlwCeJxxa_9dCSFKMcP_oOC5bjB_zdcDp8S4XGH8bg8FlI_Ya1fEw5zaMr7tQFOK4ZRpw6T2d3Hc0X0-SmjTDW-aM/s4032/image0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AWKMQyYIyuSuQp7EY_OkidpszdtL_b0OjVCQUo5qRk3F5rphIUa8sRF_o-3iYvZ9e83jUcIFIF0t5xQ9PQixLn6NxGG8WPGlwCeJxxa_9dCSFKMcP_oOC5bjB_zdcDp8S4XGH8bg8FlI_Ya1fEw5zaMr7tQFOK4ZRpw6T2d3Hc0X0-SmjTDW-aM/s320/image0.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't strive for perfection. Good enough is good enough for me!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaeenb4-xJHjKq1V_ReAjM5CvKvMX0oNzbD9ZKGpzFIBkNJCC1bXV8V9xPQKmNx7D9sMQYEAGSX1fMEIEx_7FcDJVYroqAkKQ_uvm_wvbxBPPVMJ-p9L42gB5gLY_0wIxqU5B6QlWtW8HheMP1ertvrmX64uTOT20hBKkeGGbwc9ebFIkAucS7ArU/s4032/IMG_2102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaeenb4-xJHjKq1V_ReAjM5CvKvMX0oNzbD9ZKGpzFIBkNJCC1bXV8V9xPQKmNx7D9sMQYEAGSX1fMEIEx_7FcDJVYroqAkKQ_uvm_wvbxBPPVMJ-p9L42gB5gLY_0wIxqU5B6QlWtW8HheMP1ertvrmX64uTOT20hBKkeGGbwc9ebFIkAucS7ArU/s320/IMG_2102.jpg" width="240" /></a>I also was able to use my fancy spray paint gun, a gift many years ago from my awesome BIL. It keeps the paint off my trigger finger, and keeps my old hands from cramping up while painting.<br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgQYRehdG34tghvCbcHHedEQDCgx9Y_3msPMpnkfdUVpWOv4eQjWqPmLumzBgKTm5cMOLWxm5qS3uItR4W-i-SBOTgdFesFaUUqdrbOrX_wap0yR9bUYPbz4NPBFb6K8gMVBtCmxsP7i6ABLOKz810ZZ5zf10pbFKCbHPfcvqoRixiNZRKkz-qAs/s4032/IMG_2105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgQYRehdG34tghvCbcHHedEQDCgx9Y_3msPMpnkfdUVpWOv4eQjWqPmLumzBgKTm5cMOLWxm5qS3uItR4W-i-SBOTgdFesFaUUqdrbOrX_wap0yR9bUYPbz4NPBFb6K8gMVBtCmxsP7i6ABLOKz810ZZ5zf10pbFKCbHPfcvqoRixiNZRKkz-qAs/s320/IMG_2105.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Bring it on summer, I'm ready now!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br />Me Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02217022145109147260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489108742044112129.post-13262393089281085132017-11-18T18:13:00.002-08:002017-11-18T18:13:55.202-08:00Reuse, Reduce, Recycle: A Trophy WifeA few months ago my parents came to visit with two extra suitcases. But that wasn't because they were staying for a month. It was because they had cleaned out their garage. Straight into mine, apparently.<br />
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Out of the suitcases came my old letter jacket, porcelain dolls that were gifts from family friends and my old softball trophies.<br />
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The letter jacket went back into garage storage (for my 20th HS reunion?!) and the porcelain dolls were set aside for Peanut. But what should I do with my trophies? I felt guilty for throwing them out, but I didn't want to put them back into storage. We definitely weren't going to display them on our mantle.<br />
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After perusing a few websites, I decided to make Peanut a hat/hoodie/purse rack from them.<br />
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Last month <a href="http://wecouldmakethat.blogspot.com/2017/09/fencing.html">I made a hat rack for Bjorn using an old skateboard</a> and it was a huge hit. This was Peanut's turn.<br />
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As I gathered all the materials and started the project, I found that it was actually pretty easy to unscrew the tops off the trophies. Off came all the little softball girls (and one or two soccer players). I spray painted them Peanut's color of choice and set them aside.<br />
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I had an old hat rack I found at a garage sale for .25 - boring old wood with boring old hooks on it. But I knew that piece of wood was going to be perfect for something some day. And here was someday, just staring me in the face!<br />
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I unscrewed the boring "drunk Octopus" hooks and gave Peanut a gallon of mint-colored paint and a paintbrush. Presto chango, we had a pretty piece of wood with holes already properly spaced.<br />
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The screws on the trophy heads were larger than the pre-made holes, so I used a drill bit to widen them. Then all I had to do was twist them into the holes!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjJF0nP8bIBaMFu0E_gRpJr9HfWs5560oFROGj8Zf0HVIyVmnbxXuYLPcwanU70nH5xRCHhwHAoFiHyu9_DtEXt9URJTPmL4z3-0nSV9c2nB-RrBrvvrJlmQTPbf_xMbDfBmH_5K-NXg/s1600/IMG_5458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjJF0nP8bIBaMFu0E_gRpJr9HfWs5560oFROGj8Zf0HVIyVmnbxXuYLPcwanU70nH5xRCHhwHAoFiHyu9_DtEXt9URJTPmL4z3-0nSV9c2nB-RrBrvvrJlmQTPbf_xMbDfBmH_5K-NXg/s320/IMG_5458.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I love the way it turned out and I love that I was able to reuse my childhood trophies. Since I still have some left, I am looking to make a purse rack for me, too!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHoe70TIfXLLf189I1gJty-48HAwvJp2aL7os9R_y_2UG682gi8oySBnHMLQ2rJchxcOSBUvPZTbmN5G4viCw6MNFS2rGF_3ke82BDdpBciD7OIF1l8_8JaQ6Weap-xmrBBXpwgC08Z4/s1600/IMG_5461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHoe70TIfXLLf189I1gJty-48HAwvJp2aL7os9R_y_2UG682gi8oySBnHMLQ2rJchxcOSBUvPZTbmN5G4viCw6MNFS2rGF_3ke82BDdpBciD7OIF1l8_8JaQ6Weap-xmrBBXpwgC08Z4/s320/IMG_5461.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what the rack looked like 5 minutes after I hung it. So neat and pretty. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6SmQ-3EmNMonpSpd-UHOZnfB38FqVXNkOcRWqx-souvmHz3SGJrrPr6UI0tGzphyphenhyphen_VFcZ_92AgLFHeR8dV14eRQRMCVsxBlMrreMgYL5l0B20Y0YHhV_kT2YVTT2byqA4Hp-mEWD-j4/s1600/IMG_5571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6SmQ-3EmNMonpSpd-UHOZnfB38FqVXNkOcRWqx-souvmHz3SGJrrPr6UI0tGzphyphenhyphen_VFcZ_92AgLFHeR8dV14eRQRMCVsxBlMrreMgYL5l0B20Y0YHhV_kT2YVTT2byqA4Hp-mEWD-j4/s1600/IMG_5571.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what it looks like now. This is real life!</td></tr>
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Me Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02217022145109147260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489108742044112129.post-56207160048135976022017-10-16T09:29:00.001-07:002017-10-16T09:29:29.899-07:00Happiness is taking a long, warm bathThere are two types of people in the world; those who walk into a flooring store, pick out the tile they want and are happy and those who walk into a flooring store, pick out a tile they like and then go to 47 other flooring stores to see if there is anything there they like better.<br />
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I am the first person. The Hubs is the second.<br />
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After going to all 48 stores, we went back to the first store and bought the tile I originally liked.<br />
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That is when I decided that the hardest part about renovation is not demo-ing, or choosing a contractor but it is making a final decision (every little minute decision) with the person you chose to share your life with.<br />
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I didn't realize there were going to be <i>so many</i> decisions. But after (painstakingly, agonizingly) hashing and rehashing each decision, we have the bathroom of my dreams.<br />
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Seriously, y'all. It is amazeballs.<br />
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If you check back <a href="http://wecouldmakethat.blogspot.com/2017/09/got-my-toes-in-sandsledgehammer-in-hand.html">here,</a> you can see what we did before the real pros got their hands on it.<br />
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Now, it looks like this.<br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-G-oce5wMLq-8lwHUC9iiXHDAqsHo4WWRHe5OtBnUa7WT4MvSHc53MBbTTl5-L49Krvd2qOvDFm2CC-f-8vAZFGHUipuNY1-zn3L9LKgEYChWtTT4gtPBMqM03c3DRFacczgzrcdfIPE/s1600/IMG_4864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-G-oce5wMLq-8lwHUC9iiXHDAqsHo4WWRHe5OtBnUa7WT4MvSHc53MBbTTl5-L49Krvd2qOvDFm2CC-f-8vAZFGHUipuNY1-zn3L9LKgEYChWtTT4gtPBMqM03c3DRFacczgzrcdfIPE/s320/IMG_4864.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a bathroom paradise!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Oh that tile. It's so pretty, so simple, but took so much time to actually get it. Since it covered the entire area, from bath to closet, we needed a tile that completed our "look". But what was our look? We went back and forth between something soft and calming and something fun and retro. We even bought an amazing floor tile from Home Depot that mimicked encaustic tile, a fun print I adored. Unfortunately, when we tried to match our shower tile to it (you know, the very first one I picked all the way back in May), it gave the encaustic tile a greenish hue, so we returned it.<br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVorH87iqPM885EleKe1iKPGlrtgR6oTE-Fvnvpsx8umj0zZrjhKoLV1c0qdFf5AslfVAThorHP04XmfkfrokvHNLqr30e1fuSydzpRFAOVHFI7vmGR3SOXsEFi0MIbbMvD-cRxwQR0zE/s1600/IMG_4898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVorH87iqPM885EleKe1iKPGlrtgR6oTE-Fvnvpsx8umj0zZrjhKoLV1c0qdFf5AslfVAThorHP04XmfkfrokvHNLqr30e1fuSydzpRFAOVHFI7vmGR3SOXsEFi0MIbbMvD-cRxwQR0zE/s320/IMG_4898.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The floor tile is called Prisma Gris from Floor & Decor.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhko-60rXt69dRsaxNu84FdWyxwha6pI0uC8zGVKxPoP_gwQxmyE-kXeKrUg5JjK-84DD5cdDlrKZED_TdbO250pzSieEDqSkvj211csY7Zrf_okmJtjgtizRdsJXGPqIdKd54Vp6aoeYg/s1600/IMG_4886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhko-60rXt69dRsaxNu84FdWyxwha6pI0uC8zGVKxPoP_gwQxmyE-kXeKrUg5JjK-84DD5cdDlrKZED_TdbO250pzSieEDqSkvj211csY7Zrf_okmJtjgtizRdsJXGPqIdKd54Vp6aoeYg/s320/IMG_4886.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This tile caught my eye waaay back. And was a bear to install. But worth it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-dOmBb3ollymF1l174mbuSXekp-3Qmh5Xsa6xYv_-JzelKRH934u5VB2Si6zOOyFJOduYBt41EKaaQqp0WuiXZ39X3Yi1VqYzVtUPHlHJnlJeE4fgTHX_NfeznZs1eNpEmtiuY_N_ls/s1600/IMG_4885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-dOmBb3ollymF1l174mbuSXekp-3Qmh5Xsa6xYv_-JzelKRH934u5VB2Si6zOOyFJOduYBt41EKaaQqp0WuiXZ39X3Yi1VqYzVtUPHlHJnlJeE4fgTHX_NfeznZs1eNpEmtiuY_N_ls/s320/IMG_4885.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The shower tile is called Stone Silver from Floor and Decor. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There were certain things in the bathroom that were important to either The Hubs or I. Things that made picking out accessories both easy and difficult.<br />
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I wanted oil-rubbed bronze hardware.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GfMhjKM62utc2VGr73hbMyZn07SQ7XCYpGeaOoUAh3500qJ4gsiMaehpTIwqfFPrTvzvL2VmefoDH31AnMQM5H9lhqSuGyaHfxUn6EDUK12DUL9XnP6uKuh6CBNrz5EHfOj0QjVkYCE/s1600/IMG_4891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GfMhjKM62utc2VGr73hbMyZn07SQ7XCYpGeaOoUAh3500qJ4gsiMaehpTIwqfFPrTvzvL2VmefoDH31AnMQM5H9lhqSuGyaHfxUn6EDUK12DUL9XnP6uKuh6CBNrz5EHfOj0QjVkYCE/s320/IMG_4891.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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He wanted cross hatch hardware.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkScfTb8jlV6lzC6c5q2ExziiNCRcuqGQAho2A8kvYV1ygMRu-2yf7-fGbsXj8KV0mSeGNF90gGX-GFlU395pWPNmgf4bOEeuWp83mhltN_56V0m4Jyu0ygK_BQ4QQoiaXADyxWXpDIoM/s1600/IMG_4890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkScfTb8jlV6lzC6c5q2ExziiNCRcuqGQAho2A8kvYV1ygMRu-2yf7-fGbsXj8KV0mSeGNF90gGX-GFlU395pWPNmgf4bOEeuWp83mhltN_56V0m4Jyu0ygK_BQ4QQoiaXADyxWXpDIoM/s320/IMG_4890.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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He wanted electrical outlets on both sides of the sink.<br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFp2ZTHTxRBVAJLA0kicQYR2m0IdS1Q8vH8SWNQ_lLGnUYq9T9cUx7Pza8BGcWieVYxyurBxTy0SZhtc3IWC3WA_dUVpZB-ZdCNG-pLJkwbxgMOin8UiEXpgptIcv6_fuC5LYIyO4qvU/s1600/IMG_4900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFp2ZTHTxRBVAJLA0kicQYR2m0IdS1Q8vH8SWNQ_lLGnUYq9T9cUx7Pza8BGcWieVYxyurBxTy0SZhtc3IWC3WA_dUVpZB-ZdCNG-pLJkwbxgMOin8UiEXpgptIcv6_fuC5LYIyO4qvU/s320/IMG_4900.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That is a monster HUGE mirror from Kirkland's. Lights are from Globe Electric, a Vintage Flush Mount Ceiling Light. They were bought at a liquidator and on amazon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I wanted a built in toilet paper caddy that could hold an extra roll and other bathroom necessities.<br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqzVDZIVF-o7eABLQx_oUQwvsOJJW_sKg_j07kY-jRMVTjJ7TlQBR2TXgBXA4195jru5k139mSHHQ64MiJqikQ8vIrxgZuzO06ufQ5RuUN62i2VLxC7T17Wf4Z3boiQHhNi5u-D5-VZk/s1600/IMG_4903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqzVDZIVF-o7eABLQx_oUQwvsOJJW_sKg_j07kY-jRMVTjJ7TlQBR2TXgBXA4195jru5k139mSHHQ64MiJqikQ8vIrxgZuzO06ufQ5RuUN62i2VLxC7T17Wf4Z3boiQHhNi5u-D5-VZk/s320/IMG_4903.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Storage space for a small area. No more extra rolls on the back of the toilet </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdiLvJY7hRLz4TDgymjl1WZtQMQTH58NYfPLjME5c3kftAaGPX9d6qbp4hynQZ6FuXVh4594QdhNuUDfpQHc5XTcdlNI_NoDiXbNCNahwfAkHv5dx776wsDrtd1-pxuOCHpffqHDN9Ag/s1600/IMG_4902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdiLvJY7hRLz4TDgymjl1WZtQMQTH58NYfPLjME5c3kftAaGPX9d6qbp4hynQZ6FuXVh4594QdhNuUDfpQHc5XTcdlNI_NoDiXbNCNahwfAkHv5dx776wsDrtd1-pxuOCHpffqHDN9Ag/s320/IMG_4902.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wall color is a match to Sherwin Williams Cold Morning</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We both wanted a five stack shelf and new hardware in the closet.<br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuo4Ng_i3LbOUN4-IziM08myoeMInqt76lgg4dom2A1Sqit_QwKJ5mGML0gkdbMk7MQwtNr7E8oKTHEmb99PXCB0MjeswCrsvCtuejJBVKo2aHmdo6j43h-9K4SGBmlYv68EJfAjBYcI/s1600/IMG_4807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuo4Ng_i3LbOUN4-IziM08myoeMInqt76lgg4dom2A1Sqit_QwKJ5mGML0gkdbMk7MQwtNr7E8oKTHEmb99PXCB0MjeswCrsvCtuejJBVKo2aHmdo6j43h-9K4SGBmlYv68EJfAjBYcI/s320/IMG_4807.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pros built the five stack. The Hubs built all the other shelving and rods</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A pocket door to separate toilet from sink area.<br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfEowfubFcJ6fLMgJR8wngJxmheZ0a4AR2JVVUNWmi89l63AFzhxNEJf2-pK-DbVGBs919gN6bODBCByPv4ql9k2pF_BmOYCJGfjdmreJlOQ-6EkcyNJzCaiLnYXYC3BrLpLykpJH01o/s1600/IMG_4899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfEowfubFcJ6fLMgJR8wngJxmheZ0a4AR2JVVUNWmi89l63AFzhxNEJf2-pK-DbVGBs919gN6bODBCByPv4ql9k2pF_BmOYCJGfjdmreJlOQ-6EkcyNJzCaiLnYXYC3BrLpLykpJH01o/s320/IMG_4899.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The frosted glass allows light through but still has complete privacy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A sliding barn door for between the sink and bedroom. Which my amazing husband made from scratch. It's the exact door I wanted for a small fraction of the price!<br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6ZVeYnObEqlgOaWRpCZf-LwssqFB65ZyXdgm-rixHRk8dO67U5LWDu2m8L3ucKJWCV42C42jmtpHI_JHdL27MS01saECKp7xVVeGPuphx6fbLKngJugSomockcUqvv2X4Oa9qvebQ9Q/s1600/IMG_4883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6ZVeYnObEqlgOaWRpCZf-LwssqFB65ZyXdgm-rixHRk8dO67U5LWDu2m8L3ucKJWCV42C42jmtpHI_JHdL27MS01saECKp7xVVeGPuphx6fbLKngJugSomockcUqvv2X4Oa9qvebQ9Q/s320/IMG_4883.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't it gorgeous?! Definitely my favorite part of the bathroom.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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By buying accessories on amazon, checking out liquidators around the area and doing part of the work ourselves (demo, painting, some building) we were able to get everything we wanted - and more! - for a budget price we were happy with. And now it's time to take a long, warm bath and enjoy it!<br />
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<br />Me Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02217022145109147260noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489108742044112129.post-55390611922312853802017-09-26T12:23:00.000-07:002017-09-26T12:24:16.071-07:00It's All Small Stuff<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm trying not to sweat the small stuff, but when it comes to home repair/maintenance/remodel, it all seems to be small stuff! There are a million small decisions and small issues that have to be made and taken care of everyday.<br />
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Change the air filter. Which smoke alarm is beeping? Sweep. Mop. Spackle the holes from sibling Monday Night wrestling match. Paint the baseboards. Sweep again. Can that plumbing be moved two inches? Screw this in, nail that in.<br />
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Ahhhhh, the beauty of home ownership!<br />
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While we wait for some of the big stuff to be done, I decided to tackle some small, but not insignificant items on the list.<br />
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First off were the ugly bulb overhead lights in all three bedroom closets. When I found the most amazing chandelier light for Peanut's room, I knew this was getting crossed off the list.<br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIl16viWDAI1LTRj4Zh-KtEmJCI9p0pehhKBi6i2MeSM0fd7AHCOWC1EGZIAU7NGI_JTtnQE2GJ9tD_akurTbGDyj1A4o2nWBLRy-ZfFuZ28XYNPWQYhNwCsiuko-JSyqSsMlyso-cgE/s1600/IMG_4421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIl16viWDAI1LTRj4Zh-KtEmJCI9p0pehhKBi6i2MeSM0fd7AHCOWC1EGZIAU7NGI_JTtnQE2GJ9tD_akurTbGDyj1A4o2nWBLRy-ZfFuZ28XYNPWQYhNwCsiuko-JSyqSsMlyso-cgE/s320/IMG_4421.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goodbye ugly bulb</td></tr>
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbvpGrdduFA6hlKCj9QACDxDw5eHTIcI_PeXzdi2uzICXwnwpjot4e_nXUJcb5KW8kmWpi75bSFIwMYBSNi7iiIVv9tIHDxVDZXYzKtiFAO_GLtoCB65Uc-LYAx7JNWxzSaIjEEarPEc/s1600/IMG_3811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbvpGrdduFA6hlKCj9QACDxDw5eHTIcI_PeXzdi2uzICXwnwpjot4e_nXUJcb5KW8kmWpi75bSFIwMYBSNi7iiIVv9tIHDxVDZXYzKtiFAO_GLtoCB65Uc-LYAx7JNWxzSaIjEEarPEc/s320/IMG_3811.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello gorgeous!</td></tr>
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1txsci7SmQReiiQN1u5oQ-8F8M86agrJZMO53CZpFaKHMYPfH7SRWdRGYZLYz0LIPB_yxZVgZcSXxOyt7S7MdzdlhK1K2fsd_cDqDcp0g2QA9_CVM0f9BUY4SndJNwBNj8GiYoEVuE4/s1600/IMG_3812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1txsci7SmQReiiQN1u5oQ-8F8M86agrJZMO53CZpFaKHMYPfH7SRWdRGYZLYz0LIPB_yxZVgZcSXxOyt7S7MdzdlhK1K2fsd_cDqDcp0g2QA9_CVM0f9BUY4SndJNwBNj8GiYoEVuE4/s320/IMG_3812.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She just sparkles</td></tr>
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Now I noticed we need to paint the ceiling. (Just another small thing!)<br />
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We found a not-so-amazing, but still better than before light for our closet, and poor Bjorn still has his bulb light. (His is the top picture; Peanut's was changed out before I could take a 'Before' picture.) I'm still looking for the perfect one for Bjorn.<br />
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Then, I wanted to change the handles on the kitchen cabinets. But since we are not doing a full kitchen remodel until we win the lottery or something major breaks, I didn't want to invest a lot of time or money in that change.<br />
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So, in the spirit of lazy DIYers everywhere, I took my $8 can of oil rubbed bronze spray paint and went to town.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKofVw-EVjCZXRe-jAEXWePJFDEjZq3w-P_n4CoFe9ytMpvzQCK5VfzSZcpibYpYv3uxZT5h8if5a3euKu5w4CZeRkDbRdFeB6UfwtQIe2JK_ra66hPlh7Bue7AIY9ZFeSkZWLdrrBV0/s1600/IMG_4392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKofVw-EVjCZXRe-jAEXWePJFDEjZq3w-P_n4CoFe9ytMpvzQCK5VfzSZcpibYpYv3uxZT5h8if5a3euKu5w4CZeRkDbRdFeB6UfwtQIe2JK_ra66hPlh7Bue7AIY9ZFeSkZWLdrrBV0/s320/IMG_4392.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Presto Change-o!</td></tr>
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Both of these fixes took less time and money that it takes to make dinner. Why did I wait so long?!<br />
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<br />Me Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02217022145109147260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489108742044112129.post-34680484551829699542017-02-07T09:21:00.003-08:002017-02-07T09:21:43.862-08:00Welcome!It's been a much slower process changing things around the house than I had anticipated. Between jobs, the kids school and activities, there doesn't seem to be the time - or money! - to fix and upgrade and work on the house.<br />
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But we are trying.<br />
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Little by little, brick by brick, it will happen.<br />
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First up for this year? A new front door.<br />
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Nothing was really wrong with our front door, if you like a flimsy door with peeling paint, no natural light and a gap between the frame and the door. Or if you like a steel framed security door with mesh that the dogs kept sticking their paws and noses through. So we REALLY didn't like our front door.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqCLr4KfEJveejBwDcdccRbLAFMZTo3W4o9se29jFwFRuFi6-98dZ0znIK2Ns3dZatanZLkzSeZhoIneari7foe25UPdDbfGgLks23vcx5SlYpl84pFpzxTfN3ANBZxT5P__OoVeeAag/s1600/IMG_0139+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqCLr4KfEJveejBwDcdccRbLAFMZTo3W4o9se29jFwFRuFi6-98dZ0znIK2Ns3dZatanZLkzSeZhoIneari7foe25UPdDbfGgLks23vcx5SlYpl84pFpzxTfN3ANBZxT5P__OoVeeAag/s320/IMG_0139+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boring.</td></tr>
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After much debate, we finally settled on a door from Lowe's with 1/2 frosted glass on the top. Instead of a security door, we chose a storm door with a sliding screen. No mesh on the bottom means no doggies powering their way through it. (On that note, our screen door on the back door was ran into no less than FOUR times this weekend. Two kids, one adult and one dog ran through it. We need to work on that door next!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6H1-N8yKSfp48n0q2CTnw-dIjI9fLDZGRZKQeUOEPRluTxEobR4FkCgjQuNXitOHvrrd4VVtMEkYxQLlYof5IYEoCcUrNoSCpMUApetAAeEk-QbE4qgmGZrsIsSzbVjUvT63b7TuL_U/s1600/IMG_0148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6H1-N8yKSfp48n0q2CTnw-dIjI9fLDZGRZKQeUOEPRluTxEobR4FkCgjQuNXitOHvrrd4VVtMEkYxQLlYof5IYEoCcUrNoSCpMUApetAAeEk-QbE4qgmGZrsIsSzbVjUvT63b7TuL_U/s320/IMG_0148.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before and After</td></tr>
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzm-oPzIsglIE6VDiC96wOKycAU1IBe3BjhjrINLT-JjTNCrzCbl2LSR4VCqpO2DkHdbUhlbSj3Cp2v7KQYsYBLjBGWq-933bTri3m3gb9WHtdPiWmkA9mTI8MAopM-ppcZ_dY1WDifg/s1600/IMG_0149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzm-oPzIsglIE6VDiC96wOKycAU1IBe3BjhjrINLT-JjTNCrzCbl2LSR4VCqpO2DkHdbUhlbSj3Cp2v7KQYsYBLjBGWq-933bTri3m3gb9WHtdPiWmkA9mTI8MAopM-ppcZ_dY1WDifg/s320/IMG_0149.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before and After</td></tr>
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OGIdLNcUsWDHl_9tcxOxqZBTLe8yuzhbhXp7kHBELpnXC5eUfikEDXrjPpdKkVcPgw1ZnzakGpsI4ujAOKoYJNWM_0yvO9WfhqrHpentGa3gaWUiWoQmN01r1e4LLYFV4jG0l3ZsrzE/s1600/IMG_0146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OGIdLNcUsWDHl_9tcxOxqZBTLe8yuzhbhXp7kHBELpnXC5eUfikEDXrjPpdKkVcPgw1ZnzakGpsI4ujAOKoYJNWM_0yvO9WfhqrHpentGa3gaWUiWoQmN01r1e4LLYFV4jG0l3ZsrzE/s320/IMG_0146.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the front door open.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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But we didn't stop there! I still thought it was the teensy-bit boring still and wanted to jazz it up a little bit. So now we have:<div>
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I LOVE it! With the change this fun, bright door brought to the house, I am motivated to do all sorts of things I have been putting off. Updo the bathroom? Let's do it! Change and paint the siding? You got it! Rip out a bathtub? No problem!!! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8IJdxXM6ndfMlLHgj2odkufNS73hg1TgqtNCfdAbjTUwhSaCLFU4ypNZ6ibxhlnb77DITlUm8V_693xiGHYP5slIpY4ygG_AGLwnGcuyKv4Pi3WJJcsWl0ehA5bgwuvNLgwDmfRTKAw/s1600/IMG_0406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8IJdxXM6ndfMlLHgj2odkufNS73hg1TgqtNCfdAbjTUwhSaCLFU4ypNZ6ibxhlnb77DITlUm8V_693xiGHYP5slIpY4ygG_AGLwnGcuyKv4Pi3WJJcsWl0ehA5bgwuvNLgwDmfRTKAw/s320/IMG_0406.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't mind the grass. We are saving on our water bill for a few months :)</td></tr>
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Me Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02217022145109147260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489108742044112129.post-23184330603889325482016-03-29T09:19:00.002-07:002016-03-29T09:19:52.473-07:00Double Project: One for me and One for himIt all started with Jack Daniels.<br />
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Well, a Jack Daniels <i>barrel</i>, really.<br />
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For Father's Day last year I wanted to get The Hubs the perfect gift - something he wanted but he wouldn't buy for himself. I finally decided on a Jack Daniels barrel for his man cave. He could fix it up into whatever he wanted, and according to Pinterest, there were a lot of options.<br />
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He chose to turn it into a pub table. All he needed to finish the project would be a base to raise it to pub table height, and a glass top. After searching online, he finally decided to fashion a base together using piping, to create an industrial feel.<br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3wMSeIZQgW3biP2-YFnNenNkvOqgT5cnVGKr1WyG7okt_xEyrbwf25U2eAU5jASeGUWtLq-k7yHE5qzMlaKUVa9-P_RhHy6CXGfiIYycHov4eHx2DRPAO0QGvhyphenhyphenmG_r7NW0qVDRQxEY/s1600/IMG_7358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3wMSeIZQgW3biP2-YFnNenNkvOqgT5cnVGKr1WyG7okt_xEyrbwf25U2eAU5jASeGUWtLq-k7yHE5qzMlaKUVa9-P_RhHy6CXGfiIYycHov4eHx2DRPAO0QGvhyphenhyphenmG_r7NW0qVDRQxEY/s320/IMG_7358.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I would go into detail about he fashioned this base, but I have no idea. Oops.</td></tr>
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The glass top took a little longer to find, but a few weeks later he finally found one at Pier 1 for $100.<br />
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Hours before he left to buy it, I searched online and found the exact size he needed on OfferUp for $10. Score!<br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfz_htX5rOQ11JzMWGAWa5dbmsx9eLkx-_QeKUpbueMLIKP1vFmFW12BGxK5Bv6Jkc4azmA6DcCy1rstcQXn7qLUmXcuKaD0GsOuk5YOlBHf4H2ONfnAinJKxS1X8uYrG2xjK4tGvWDGA/s1600/IMG_5872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfz_htX5rOQ11JzMWGAWa5dbmsx9eLkx-_QeKUpbueMLIKP1vFmFW12BGxK5Bv6Jkc4azmA6DcCy1rstcQXn7qLUmXcuKaD0GsOuk5YOlBHf4H2ONfnAinJKxS1X8uYrG2xjK4tGvWDGA/s320/IMG_5872.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It may not look like much, but I have a vision!</td></tr>
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Even better? The perfect sized glass top was actually a coffee table and was attached to a steel framed bottom that I wanted to use for my own project. Double score!<br />
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All he had to do was drive halfway across town (Okay, so I <i>might </i>have thought it was in a closer city than it was and he <i>might </i>have driven almost 45 minutes to get it, but....whatever!) and load it up. The glass came off from the bottom part easily, and all he had to do to finish his pub table was place the glass on top and buy some bar stools. Easy and looks spectacular in his man cave!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNO8SM9QBnY5sCNZxelnUAteuirH_USkEqlKj7kp1h_4C4FdIQdsmdy2GE_ghFvRVslNd4b9c1nhTNu82_Hg99w9LmmEAf6olgw5V9pZaa0W0zaKQo1KWb_a4MOO9lZ7I0YaZ26NL-kM/s1600/IMG_7359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNO8SM9QBnY5sCNZxelnUAteuirH_USkEqlKj7kp1h_4C4FdIQdsmdy2GE_ghFvRVslNd4b9c1nhTNu82_Hg99w9LmmEAf6olgw5V9pZaa0W0zaKQo1KWb_a4MOO9lZ7I0YaZ26NL-kM/s320/IMG_7359.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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My project was next. I had seen how to make a pallet coffee table online and decided to tweak the picture to better fit my style. I had at first wanted to ask my neighbor to weld me the legs for the table, but it turned out that he frame on the OfferUp coffee table was exactly what I needed!<br />
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First up, I grabbed one of our pallets that I keep around just for projects like this. I looked for the one that was in the best shape. Unlike most of my other pallet projects, I wouldn't be using just the pallet wood, but the actual pallet itself. I needed the whole thing to be pretty. <br />
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I had The Hubs saw the pallet down about 3/4 of the way. This happened to be where on the underside there was a curve, and this made it even on both sides. That left me with five boards on top and gaps in between.<br />
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We took a few boards off the remaining 1/4 of the pallet, and combined with a few others we had lying around, we were able to fill in the gaps to make a complete table top.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZnof0qBsRvnK1xBR8X9ghK92DLHIbwEzuOTL_WloaLnfTxGzTpGLwvR3TrjpD0vIpw7LckSjYl7hqIhly59P26LRJOIOOGauB5TqPu6CIm4c8rxrTw7a3LnwVUxEw32jotisgMC40do/s1600/IMG_5965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZnof0qBsRvnK1xBR8X9ghK92DLHIbwEzuOTL_WloaLnfTxGzTpGLwvR3TrjpD0vIpw7LckSjYl7hqIhly59P26LRJOIOOGauB5TqPu6CIm4c8rxrTw7a3LnwVUxEw32jotisgMC40do/s320/IMG_5965.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whoa. Talk about uneven!</td></tr>
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You can tell from the picture, it was pretty uneven, which is not what you want when you're putting your drink on it! The Hubs grabbed his planer and began planing it down. A few minutes later and we had a relatively even top.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKJTPyj5Zg2CAoN3TY50vd328C44gzIOA9oRwVWZKFkyE-AzIMrHnqRSaNrm-4albjL9BtgtarJL0rDo4v8V9EMI1KfWRt3bE8vVcRl7ulH3TJJRFOqQWoqDTt5VsLahe4gX0KaliK0s/s1600/IMG_5967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKJTPyj5Zg2CAoN3TY50vd328C44gzIOA9oRwVWZKFkyE-AzIMrHnqRSaNrm-4albjL9BtgtarJL0rDo4v8V9EMI1KfWRt3bE8vVcRl7ulH3TJJRFOqQWoqDTt5VsLahe4gX0KaliK0s/s320/IMG_5967.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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I grabbed the sander and went to work. I've worked with many a pallet and the worst part for me are the splinters. Since this was going to be an outdoor table, used by kids and adults alike, I wanted there to be no splinters whatsoever. If you had been around for the Great Camping Splinter Incident of 2015, you would understand. I still have trauma from the screams.<br />
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It was at this point that I decided to tried to push my luck with the frame. On the legs was an awful particle board/fake wood veneer piece.<br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPYpYpVSoiN962Wv59htM5q2vJu6OMNJsGMlg-zwuvFhyNmcsIqCmUYUzYO-TlPE2nL7wYSCOBop9YfV4f_XJ7BpMRAFXezRgxLcHanARbM1Fz35el_WiURlPMhuHC4-INdhzeY9BjAo/s1600/IMG_5968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPYpYpVSoiN962Wv59htM5q2vJu6OMNJsGMlg-zwuvFhyNmcsIqCmUYUzYO-TlPE2nL7wYSCOBop9YfV4f_XJ7BpMRAFXezRgxLcHanARbM1Fz35el_WiURlPMhuHC4-INdhzeY9BjAo/s320/IMG_5968.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">UG-LEE!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The first time I pressed on it, it wouldn't move, and I thought maybe I would have to texture and chalk paint it. But today I was feeling lucky and I went at it with a hammer.<br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpLxiwjtpOi9nYvICsL-Pm3bA8t1lFbsw5PCu1z5gO6ZKjOPcZkXGQdX-xRdOCHfQcEiczhpyMFyGVKnXPb1ewK4BrHiOrV6dZfgXtGjm8bQ4ma6EQ7jYDnCwWkGfoa_MlgpHJrpMYUk/s1600/IMG_5970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpLxiwjtpOi9nYvICsL-Pm3bA8t1lFbsw5PCu1z5gO6ZKjOPcZkXGQdX-xRdOCHfQcEiczhpyMFyGVKnXPb1ewK4BrHiOrV6dZfgXtGjm8bQ4ma6EQ7jYDnCwWkGfoa_MlgpHJrpMYUk/s320/IMG_5970.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Success!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After a few minutes of solid hammering, I had popped out all four ugly fake wood pieces and transformed the frame even more.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5wEkYI_MedcF-68FkdAYUEjNgofUdKZ_BusuqvHdwaqKrBeB6hHIuTB5-ROTY79UaLoCEg_UUvYJnwNhL3GxA9WP-uh2jH3rlAbY2m-H5KS20dYjTaPw1RcTvcjWEyopQY8ZMe9gc8k/s1600/IMG_5973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5wEkYI_MedcF-68FkdAYUEjNgofUdKZ_BusuqvHdwaqKrBeB6hHIuTB5-ROTY79UaLoCEg_UUvYJnwNhL3GxA9WP-uh2jH3rlAbY2m-H5KS20dYjTaPw1RcTvcjWEyopQY8ZMe9gc8k/s320/IMG_5973.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I was content to leave it as is, but The Hubs the perfectionist convinced me to add two larger wood pieces on either open end to cap off the table. In my pallets, there were two different sized slats. One size fit on the top of the table, the other fit perfectly to finish off the side ends. Don't tell The Hubs I said this, but it did look better his way. He also convinced me to stain it. Multiple times. Ugh.<br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalLCHJ7iJCYZnU5X_bJIzvpRjfuSIr_KBs3f_LsBzsNq_TLlToBpF3P7n1AXwBZ9J_DwF7l53mrvAnEd5nsA7MBQcMGe-iLGQ8sy6yQkFUql4QD5aGt4Jvb81HQr6mvoyq0yXGSR-No0/s1600/IMG_5975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalLCHJ7iJCYZnU5X_bJIzvpRjfuSIr_KBs3f_LsBzsNq_TLlToBpF3P7n1AXwBZ9J_DwF7l53mrvAnEd5nsA7MBQcMGe-iLGQ8sy6yQkFUql4QD5aGt4Jvb81HQr6mvoyq0yXGSR-No0/s320/IMG_5975.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I hate staining because I hate waiting the required time between coats.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The first three layers worked great with a stain that deepened the pallet wood and allowed the different colors shine through. I was actually getting into this staining, waiting and re-staining process. The fourth layer was a minor setback, though, as I grabbed the the wrong stain and turned my beautiful pallet top a shade of brownish-orange. Oops.<br />
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I wound up not being able to completely get rid of the orange top, even with repeated sandings, so I followed up with a deeper stain. It took away some of the color variety I had loved, but seeing as the orange had seeped into the grayer pieces, darker was what needed to be done.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPruMkkeucrW-0zUX0NN-wl_TuB2JTNNtr-iZ14ddfT7Ca41nnwYC-E-253YdIec7ugZ2xzKp4k9ANnFvfNy8TpNi4Lb48XK5l_APOaVrk8UGx8L7-dVOkWjz3n4nb0I7YpUc72evZFGA/s1600/IMG_6135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPruMkkeucrW-0zUX0NN-wl_TuB2JTNNtr-iZ14ddfT7Ca41nnwYC-E-253YdIec7ugZ2xzKp4k9ANnFvfNy8TpNi4Lb48XK5l_APOaVrk8UGx8L7-dVOkWjz3n4nb0I7YpUc72evZFGA/s320/IMG_6135.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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After I was satisfied with the stain, I followed up with a few layers of tung oil to provide an extra layer of protection to the wood from spills and sun.<br />
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I was ready to finally have a finished piece and frankly, was tired of doing things the right way, so I fully intended to zip-tie the leg frames to the bottom side of the pallet piece. The Hubs knows my reputation for getting bored with projects though, so he grabbed the coffee table and secured it properly to the bottom with screws.<br />
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Here is a view of the finished coffee table in my patio sitting area. Love!!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3KN8jFSo0gs_BzxdlNbEjRr42bd_HlFuocuukYlHDD8yIak9nj1g__PtfF6M_sVlBWD4WHFQhjlPOmTuLHfXLd5jnd4AiRyfhX-NAfHwScI6SCgoycHOUFmRxAhGZadhMb0xrcVS7nw/s1600/IMG_7369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3KN8jFSo0gs_BzxdlNbEjRr42bd_HlFuocuukYlHDD8yIak9nj1g__PtfF6M_sVlBWD4WHFQhjlPOmTuLHfXLd5jnd4AiRyfhX-NAfHwScI6SCgoycHOUFmRxAhGZadhMb0xrcVS7nw/s320/IMG_7369.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A table big enough for everyone to use!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4a6WsBLQhwKl0cRyfAL-PaSzEIe-SpazDfonu2eZYn-T560Hw87ezacYwf0iUlM6krO-X7AOSrha47Eyvoabfy5BoMZSC1cATOuxpZ2ic9NX1szFYDH5jVsUx6qn3zV4PMZ2vHTIcBLo/s1600/IMG_7370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4a6WsBLQhwKl0cRyfAL-PaSzEIe-SpazDfonu2eZYn-T560Hw87ezacYwf0iUlM6krO-X7AOSrha47Eyvoabfy5BoMZSC1cATOuxpZ2ic9NX1szFYDH5jVsUx6qn3zV4PMZ2vHTIcBLo/s320/IMG_7370.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I thought about cleaning up for this pic, and then thought....Nah....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOi1M80FOT-W3DrXAMPMuvALlxLsEwwowijA_7DDa8a5_e6WVWiKCmtGI8UZr89xRhc11Wk-dXpzHLHkohyphenhyphenSbYSU4deUOMWkcwMNEosMtMfz-lAJQ-QYSFkODTduO3_-HRu8MbYapaJqU/s1600/IMG_7371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOi1M80FOT-W3DrXAMPMuvALlxLsEwwowijA_7DDa8a5_e6WVWiKCmtGI8UZr89xRhc11Wk-dXpzHLHkohyphenhyphenSbYSU4deUOMWkcwMNEosMtMfz-lAJQ-QYSFkODTduO3_-HRu8MbYapaJqU/s320/IMG_7371.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home Sweet Home!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Me Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02217022145109147260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489108742044112129.post-18466429643235554872015-11-10T08:50:00.001-08:002015-11-10T08:50:46.802-08:00String Art DIYOver the toilet at a friends house is a string art picture of a deer I absolutely love.<br />
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It's a little bit funky, a little bit strange - considering it's location, hanging above a potty - and totally fun. I thought about buying the same one she had (a Target special, natch), but decided that, like most other things...<i>I could make that</i>.<br />
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But a deer, while fun and apropos (the Hubs is a hunter), wasn't exactly what I was envisioning. What picture did I value most? What idea or image meant the most to me - to us as a family?<br />
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Then it hit me. <br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUUO83T-Tvypvz7JxBJ0ZUUgJ5ySl5m0AqSFqiGSjpiaiA8tMGy8bZT2gQcINjxacRA2uLJ1gNquwo2AK9AgvJxQ1o8mpNjEhTf_q2wNTvuiDVMFUtU-2w-NrxGIw9xMfx4WjfWHDDYE/s1600/IMG_1074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUUO83T-Tvypvz7JxBJ0ZUUgJ5ySl5m0AqSFqiGSjpiaiA8tMGy8bZT2gQcINjxacRA2uLJ1gNquwo2AK9AgvJxQ1o8mpNjEhTf_q2wNTvuiDVMFUtU-2w-NrxGIw9xMfx4WjfWHDDYE/s200/IMG_1074.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hmmm..what could I do with this??</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I began with a wood plaque piece I had rescued from a garage sale for $1. At the time, I had no idea what I would do with it, just that I <i>needed</i> it. Six months later, I was finally putting it to use.<br />
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I was able to print a 12x12 image of my desired picture. Can you guess what it is?<br />
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Drumroll......<br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwq73FzQcmzhYYpoGdXVApUsAdRSC2KtoATxzduVFUjhG3lJk5vK3qKWLTdKVJl17TI9OtHBJUjeO6ncOOZzEX81cJGReK7NedKGEEWQ7kPHJtyyJYabzG_reC7TvzUpulQf0T2UZp944/s1600/IMG_1076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwq73FzQcmzhYYpoGdXVApUsAdRSC2KtoATxzduVFUjhG3lJk5vK3qKWLTdKVJl17TI9OtHBJUjeO6ncOOZzEX81cJGReK7NedKGEEWQ7kPHJtyyJYabzG_reC7TvzUpulQf0T2UZp944/s320/IMG_1076.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I couldn't get the pic to turn but it's pretty recognizable, right?!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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That's right. My Arizona home is decorated with my love of Texas. This among others.<br />
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I grabbed about 600 nails and started hammering them in around the image. Okay, okay, so it was really only 200+ nails, but it felt like a million. I winged it, hammering oh, about every 1/2 of an inch or so, and oh, maybe 1/2 inch into the wood. I wasn't really worried about getting it perfect.<br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8_nAuaRTIjw5tRlPALWfPsg7U41U8zNTKOxDwKCOHlTeWUFRhapRwJH_ekdXKz06ebtatgcVc3iwmaBjeU82WJEoyjwU4aaRIMeh4DMOe5GOgnwerm-sleczmU2i3zySA-ptU3rzI4M/s1600/IMG_1079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8_nAuaRTIjw5tRlPALWfPsg7U41U8zNTKOxDwKCOHlTeWUFRhapRwJH_ekdXKz06ebtatgcVc3iwmaBjeU82WJEoyjwU4aaRIMeh4DMOe5GOgnwerm-sleczmU2i3zySA-ptU3rzI4M/s320/IMG_1079.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can take the girl out of Texas....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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**Next time, I will use fewer nails, with a bigger space between them. Adds a little more depth to the piece.<br />
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After the hammering was completed, I grabbed some thick red string and wound it around the heart I had placed in the city that still owns mine.<br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5W1M7DQvNfCHAQzTZTCRyd-ZkHqMPI13OE0H34NnpThf_Ga6tm-F3OuMV7F_mPM0F-ETA3GnYBVyvvdYR079QVmGzQkqdmxWp_tKSAwx1FmLMt5B7sjC4E4LfbHazL0FWK_N7uG7PL-c/s1600/IMG_1108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5W1M7DQvNfCHAQzTZTCRyd-ZkHqMPI13OE0H34NnpThf_Ga6tm-F3OuMV7F_mPM0F-ETA3GnYBVyvvdYR079QVmGzQkqdmxWp_tKSAwx1FmLMt5B7sjC4E4LfbHazL0FWK_N7uG7PL-c/s320/IMG_1108.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ah, Lubbock. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
Lubbock, Texas, in the panhandle of West Texas. The place that Mac Davis sang is happiness in your rear view mirror, but to me will always be the place I found my husband and my future. It's a good ol' town filled with good ol' people.<br />
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<br />
After the heart, I grabbed a deep blue string and began wrapping around the rest of the nails. There wasn't a pattern to this except that there was no pattern. I wanted to make sure each nail was wrapped at least once, and hopefully twice, but in no particular order.<br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_HWq1iXNpRWkehseq7X-YQtMfrOkhj6R5aL8bZ8pBipM5x9892_5eGmi-uSpFqjK7h2tMYeA5PIdznL4LnylLjIlLycx8LJuDX2SwrKi9X8rS7LP9V6w-1uhxLpdHAW5SOmdNJijIUY/s1600/IMG_1182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_HWq1iXNpRWkehseq7X-YQtMfrOkhj6R5aL8bZ8pBipM5x9892_5eGmi-uSpFqjK7h2tMYeA5PIdznL4LnylLjIlLycx8LJuDX2SwrKi9X8rS7LP9V6w-1uhxLpdHAW5SOmdNJijIUY/s320/IMG_1182.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home sweet home. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It sits on my fireplace, a reminder of my roots.<br />
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<br />Me Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02217022145109147260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489108742044112129.post-89839957438184740222015-11-08T14:39:00.001-08:002015-11-08T14:40:12.323-08:00A Pallet Sign Remember all those pallets we had lying around that we <a href="http://www.wecouldmakethat.blogspot.com/2015/08/man-cave-wall-part-three-walking-on-wall.html">didn't use for the Man Cave Wall</a>? I finally had The Hubs take two of them apart so I could use the boards for projects. Because I didn't have enough projects already half finished......<br />
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I decided to start with a pallet sign for Bjorn's room. For years, I have wanted a sign in his room with a particular quote, and since I knew I could make one, I had put off buying it.<br />
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Time to git 'er done.<br />
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I started with three pallet wood strips. I sanded them down by hand, trying to preserve their wood look, but still taking out all the splinters and roughness. I had to hammer down a few nails, too.<br />
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Then I grabbed my ever-faithful chalk paint (to see my first try with chalk paint, go <a href="http://www.wecouldmakethat.blogspot.com/2014/05/annie-sloan-chalk-paint-eye-opening.html">here</a>), this time in primitive gray, and mixed it 1:1 ratio with water. I was hoping for a whitewash finish, to see some of the wood underneath. I will have to tweak the formula a little, for it was still a little too thick for my taste. It was less a whitewashing and more of an all-out painting.<br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDNtzzXsb0k9zBYzgqQx8WXr7U7KL5L6r9JHy15Vs0aAh34U899FzIr5GccGWgGjf3Kv5vvS2ZzTejo_w4hwsidg9lUYAoKyvKL7oa6dQ2l3WNOf9z-LbLgjoWw-TsS31CUlbnoiTlKs/s1600/image1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDNtzzXsb0k9zBYzgqQx8WXr7U7KL5L6r9JHy15Vs0aAh34U899FzIr5GccGWgGjf3Kv5vvS2ZzTejo_w4hwsidg9lUYAoKyvKL7oa6dQ2l3WNOf9z-LbLgjoWw-TsS31CUlbnoiTlKs/s320/image1.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Americana Decor chalk paint. From Home Depot, I think?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I struggled as to how I would put the writing on the piece. Should I have a friend print it on her vinyl printer? Should I hand paint and wing it? I finally decided to print off the quote on my cheap-o printer for tracing. I chose a random font and text size (Times New Roman, 150 font size) and printed away. <br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWv_7oiKz11plNCyf1cNKJdksYobru5-8JQBfIv0ZM1uAv0yJCy4Kruf7LtK6EM6yTLP3Hioca972BuBEfAos5NDitF2WoIfEOTWuqASRNmAJykG6kGcPPimPCPZ65vPKdip3-0_XLytM/s1600/image2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWv_7oiKz11plNCyf1cNKJdksYobru5-8JQBfIv0ZM1uAv0yJCy4Kruf7LtK6EM6yTLP3Hioca972BuBEfAos5NDitF2WoIfEOTWuqASRNmAJykG6kGcPPimPCPZ65vPKdip3-0_XLytM/s320/image2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty high-tech, eh?!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Once the paint was dry (Which, seriously, took less than an hour - I LOVE chalk paint!), I taped it to the wood. I had to move it around a bit to get the spacing and centering right, and I could have used a ruler, but I don't mind imperfection. Then I took something sharp to etch the letters into the wood. I started with a pencil, but that broke from how hard I needed to press down.. I finally settled on an unclicked ballpoint pen, which worked great. With a faint outline able to be seen on the wood, I was ready to paint.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP200U0gSsm_mAeJy2UPqoCgyEgxNAbV6hkCOB_T2hruJxA-AolyJ290YHdZ4l9Fc0rMXeCkSjQI31PyJUeAmm3AjjAadH54YV9ZB7GsKO8cLhKNaa9s5OxduLpMDGN6EpM9fiS7e-1I4/s1600/IMG_4571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP200U0gSsm_mAeJy2UPqoCgyEgxNAbV6hkCOB_T2hruJxA-AolyJ290YHdZ4l9Fc0rMXeCkSjQI31PyJUeAmm3AjjAadH54YV9ZB7GsKO8cLhKNaa9s5OxduLpMDGN6EpM9fiS7e-1I4/s320/IMG_4571.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The hardest part of painting the letters was getting the paint into the nooks and crannies of the wood. It's not a smooth surface, and it took sometimes three coats of tracing in order to get all the niches filled in. But I'm very happy with my first try.<br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGqv3hI3rfcv6yne2oDRfSJaKaY7hUY5p1cbaIs9Ol2ki9LiN8tDCAmIFdtdiilONhtQhMeQHccDGIQtFw3RJCh1rTup4FCdexFz1O8HiqJ2N3ipukvWICTCDfMXaqsFW8r3ZYGmnU73I/s1600/IMG_4578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGqv3hI3rfcv6yne2oDRfSJaKaY7hUY5p1cbaIs9Ol2ki9LiN8tDCAmIFdtdiilONhtQhMeQHccDGIQtFw3RJCh1rTup4FCdexFz1O8HiqJ2N3ipukvWICTCDfMXaqsFW8r3ZYGmnU73I/s320/IMG_4578.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first of three small pieces to secure along the back</td></tr>
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Next, I cut down another piece of pallet piece into smaller pieces to attach to the back of the sign. This allows all three pieces to stay together, and gives me something to hang a wall mount onto. The most important part of this step is to find a nail that is LONG ENOUGH to go through both pieces of wood but not TOO LONG that it comes out on the front side of the sign. It needs to be secure without marring the look.<br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6J7bjCsZVeRpbaFUsTwIPCU6DbRFOT7UDUidnItFgOEmuYikHHBzvOGtv0pLW4WPdAW98s0VWXPchGSB-6V7id9oVHH-rTIQgy3kckviTolgaewDxpw1djlpOmhts7Zny0BJHra8uEM/s1600/IMG_4575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6J7bjCsZVeRpbaFUsTwIPCU6DbRFOT7UDUidnItFgOEmuYikHHBzvOGtv0pLW4WPdAW98s0VWXPchGSB-6V7id9oVHH-rTIQgy3kckviTolgaewDxpw1djlpOmhts7Zny0BJHra8uEM/s320/IMG_4575.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strong words. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
When my Hubs gets home, he will hang it in Bjorn's room (And I'll add an updated wall picture then.) I am not allowed to hang things anymore. Something about when we moved the last time and he found the six silver dollar sized holes I had conveniently hidden behind our wall shelves. In my defense, it's hard to hit the exact spot right every time. Or every six times.<br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFMD7pyy4-x7dzFzV7onoSf7HHnqQdQqJerXQHD62nulFJ3dYqHSIJXpG6Dwp6p66JRQ0wbbktTEF1rgN61Dyiv_1kPkCW3wXYTZFcRN32Gdk-jJ3M1eTMTkiUuG68VM4BuBiCeiO8mw/s1600/IMG_4579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFMD7pyy4-x7dzFzV7onoSf7HHnqQdQqJerXQHD62nulFJ3dYqHSIJXpG6Dwp6p66JRQ0wbbktTEF1rgN61Dyiv_1kPkCW3wXYTZFcRN32Gdk-jJ3M1eTMTkiUuG68VM4BuBiCeiO8mw/s320/IMG_4579.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, yes. We rock a lava lamp.</td></tr>
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While the quote comes from A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh series, so it can be considered babyish to some, I find it applicable for a 6 year old. Even at six, in the first grade, he struggles with peer pressure, and with academic pressure. He is caught between a little boy and a big kid. This is a reminder to him each day that he is so much more than he thinks he is, that he can do and be something bigger. It says that I believe in him. I believe in his ability to do great things and be a great person.Me Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02217022145109147260noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489108742044112129.post-33561716463321064292015-02-20T12:20:00.000-08:002015-02-20T12:20:17.124-08:00Every cloud has a silver liningI promised the kidlets when we moved that they would be able to pick the colors to paint their new rooms.<br />
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I lied.<br />
<br />
Peanut chose bubblegum, baby girl, pretty pretty PINK. Bjorn chose red.<br />
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Um...<em>no.</em><br />
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I casually steered them towards other colors, all the time making them think it was their idea. (<em>Parenting win!)</em> After promising Peanut that we could have PINK PINK PINK all over her room (just not on the walls), she chose a pretty lilac.<br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQBndvz1bLViTd2-__MT1AfrX9lYorWksC6qxYC7VTJlUWvsje_95_Nq7b9DJEn8GMuMGSqUaiGXoMENRg8wOSimoj4g5gwyqOVX35VgzBjo8lDHYxVgro7spRAOrP0BxLrD7P4xAArA/s1600/IMG_0342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQBndvz1bLViTd2-__MT1AfrX9lYorWksC6qxYC7VTJlUWvsje_95_Nq7b9DJEn8GMuMGSqUaiGXoMENRg8wOSimoj4g5gwyqOVX35VgzBjo8lDHYxVgro7spRAOrP0BxLrD7P4xAArA/s1600/IMG_0342.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was hoping it would be purpler, but at least the girl is happy and it's not PINK!</td></tr>
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I had to promise Bjorn he could paint his side table red (!!!!) before he settled for a sky blue. Because he also now wants clouds.<br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOflzky6VlYYYKvez2b-M9MiNi35uSXoU02o1X_J97GPk8dMf-pmEGxfFMoomwwYPDzz7JoRW1xMd8M_72h4S5PS9_5DjokJw5v1BtsQQxwixMpkiWTXDDK-KS5iUDdd0whMgC9BOBVHs/s1600/IMG_0586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOflzky6VlYYYKvez2b-M9MiNi35uSXoU02o1X_J97GPk8dMf-pmEGxfFMoomwwYPDzz7JoRW1xMd8M_72h4S5PS9_5DjokJw5v1BtsQQxwixMpkiWTXDDK-KS5iUDdd0whMgC9BOBVHs/s1600/IMG_0586.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note to self: Old sheets triple-folded are not thick enough to be used as drop cloths.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I tried to tell him that Mommy was no artist, and clouds on the wall, while they look easy, were more than mere circles, and had the potential to be the biggest Pinterest failure of 2015. He was insistent on clouds. Then my amazing aunt sent me a link for creative DIY rooms and I hit the jackpot.<br />
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I can make him clouds that actually hang from the ceiling. <br />
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It looked easy, so I ordered the supplies from Amazon (love me some Prime!!) and the boy and I got to work.<br />
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Yup, he helped. Because it is that easy. <br />
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10 white paper lanterns (I believe they are 8") for $8, a baggie of stuffing for $5 (at first I ordered quilting batting, but that is totally wrong. You need the stuffing that goes inside teddy bears and such.) and Elmer's Glue (hot glue would have worked better, but then the boy couldn't have helped).<br />
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$13 for clouds. A steal.<br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ap-R2O2nJo8RfR0diSxhe8mdHTzeZsDtENo9kxkLhgbm8MD8OMSN5hY2sNdHI7_8QmBg-Q2mO0cCcVgeMaWNynYK1B5PTvyL7w_vetdtqVilomexWdvgxdQQ_0D_My7kE9DZTajzONE/s1600/IMG_0561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ap-R2O2nJo8RfR0diSxhe8mdHTzeZsDtENo9kxkLhgbm8MD8OMSN5hY2sNdHI7_8QmBg-Q2mO0cCcVgeMaWNynYK1B5PTvyL7w_vetdtqVilomexWdvgxdQQ_0D_My7kE9DZTajzONE/s1600/IMG_0561.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Technology confounds me. I can't turn this picture. Just tilt your head. </td></tr>
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I put together the lanterns, and Bjorn drizzled glue all over the outside, section by section. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1r63ptjDYtyrwrW9AUzqT8_QozBjAekFFyHdCfU1vb8b91ITbu9YCg15websA1P6QU0AuwoAOh_HAHYFDqjtHbU_21kqOq_2ZB01KFRh-srcw-ke1wHPaXgf9jym-nN_0_b87zjjpVU/s1600/IMG_0556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1r63ptjDYtyrwrW9AUzqT8_QozBjAekFFyHdCfU1vb8b91ITbu9YCg15websA1P6QU0AuwoAOh_HAHYFDqjtHbU_21kqOq_2ZB01KFRh-srcw-ke1wHPaXgf9jym-nN_0_b87zjjpVU/s1600/IMG_0556.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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He grabbed big wads of cotton batting and stuffed it onto the lantern. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1blVuNJ5PCIsn9GlYaE1igEss21GXka8J-i12Cg1xwEGv3mytW5NaTX3P8dABN997tAGkHmyAaO0FZQadgqvl4ZUY0jO7QdGzhOh-gUONwqpMVMXn2s0B3lQyEy5ELKnF_oILEbFEiLY/s1600/IMG_0557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1blVuNJ5PCIsn9GlYaE1igEss21GXka8J-i12Cg1xwEGv3mytW5NaTX3P8dABN997tAGkHmyAaO0FZQadgqvl4ZUY0jO7QdGzhOh-gUONwqpMVMXn2s0B3lQyEy5ELKnF_oILEbFEiLY/s1600/IMG_0557.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Then repeat from the next section. Turn, repeat. Turn, repeat. All the way around. Let dry and hang from the ceiling with a thumbtack and some string. Voila. Clouds.<br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAvK01luA6x7kNoUfSfVFI7Mw1KDV1BGINlLO7LBnOyaoZLbSONMCpxQE483UpUgTAgvb9k6-VQs_3SrMk0ErbNjWr3JiI2pdStbXsFa25HAmcQdcvyKDzT4w4KsYbDFNhyphenhyphencFnLc-NF8/s1600/IMG_0608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAvK01luA6x7kNoUfSfVFI7Mw1KDV1BGINlLO7LBnOyaoZLbSONMCpxQE483UpUgTAgvb9k6-VQs_3SrMk0ErbNjWr3JiI2pdStbXsFa25HAmcQdcvyKDzT4w4KsYbDFNhyphenhyphencFnLc-NF8/s1600/IMG_0608.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He wants the clouds to be shapes. Like the ones in the sky. "Look, Mom! An elephant tap-dancing!"</td></tr>
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmHVuErWnTns9nNj74xCv4LKbjkjRHp9AjmdfGRQOjb_CeH0VQJEZrNMvJ02iahGePqscUr8J5UiPB6I_kJWWymBgb8wFynRKRJTEU-65a_QVqUcqf7aW7t_9pxsTvuwNI0z_vhcPmr8/s1600/IMG_0609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmHVuErWnTns9nNj74xCv4LKbjkjRHp9AjmdfGRQOjb_CeH0VQJEZrNMvJ02iahGePqscUr8J5UiPB6I_kJWWymBgb8wFynRKRJTEU-65a_QVqUcqf7aW7t_9pxsTvuwNI0z_vhcPmr8/s1600/IMG_0609.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have three more clouds and I'm pretty sure he will want them over his bed. Except we are putting in a ceiling fan next week, so......</td></tr>
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Not to be left out, I picked up a little something at a local resale site for the girl, too. <br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5HWQwITHyTM7lD25P55GL9z-nLTnbnimaZAZTJuu6ZDgpYo4HlHSDJwh8Et3PEOxvzdDBQIxdnb214gZMGBLbdoLuFypdqVwAPZBTuALttO_pbUB5IsSrl0Q4Rn4j0PlTs0KeKyFBIIk/s1600/IMG_0611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5HWQwITHyTM7lD25P55GL9z-nLTnbnimaZAZTJuu6ZDgpYo4HlHSDJwh8Et3PEOxvzdDBQIxdnb214gZMGBLbdoLuFypdqVwAPZBTuALttO_pbUB5IsSrl0Q4Rn4j0PlTs0KeKyFBIIk/s1600/IMG_0611.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She asked for either butterflies or Rapunzel princesses on the clouds. Whichever, I smell a craft day soon!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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By far, this was the easiest DIY we have done since we moved into this house. It also makes Bjorn happy, so it is a complete win in my opinion!<br />
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Me Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02217022145109147260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489108742044112129.post-8134665230658444062015-02-13T17:59:00.002-08:002015-02-13T17:59:45.105-08:00How a Few Walnuts Saved my Marriage In my defense, I've never had real wood floors. Laminate, yes. But real wood? I had no idea how soft they were. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnD032OvxrkUCB-WnYVAR9YwTICGfgMb4iS6dSaGG9UFztD3g5FmfVlWw0wb8z8gY9G2zkfm-fm25U04hyk7dx1svK1iSCORRI7HIiHGi7Y-lNhQjo05_GJht5bCIk4XVmZbcFSb_1tI/s1600/IMG_0136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnD032OvxrkUCB-WnYVAR9YwTICGfgMb4iS6dSaGG9UFztD3g5FmfVlWw0wb8z8gY9G2zkfm-fm25U04hyk7dx1svK1iSCORRI7HIiHGi7Y-lNhQjo05_GJht5bCIk4XVmZbcFSb_1tI/s1600/IMG_0136.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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See that shoe there? It's not there because I couldn't take it another 6 inches to the shoe basket. Unlike some people <em>who shall remain nameless</em>, I can take my items an extra 1/2 foot to get them to the right spot.<br />
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That's another story.<br />
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Do you want to see what's under the shoe?<br />
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I know you do.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8c1lakbCeLKzHWQRM4Lwgjm3Lnnl72ylVwd4T4O61nSm8m0PdqGjKbD6EmM6hBQa63ndvBn6t-TIXDzlwHxohdJbt-gs0BeJ1A-4TgkUbtfM4HKiZnwpeVJvmPjm7Ei6sBqi1uXb1cXE/s1600/IMG_0134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8c1lakbCeLKzHWQRM4Lwgjm3Lnnl72ylVwd4T4O61nSm8m0PdqGjKbD6EmM6hBQa63ndvBn6t-TIXDzlwHxohdJbt-gs0BeJ1A-4TgkUbtfM4HKiZnwpeVJvmPjm7Ei6sBqi1uXb1cXE/s1600/IMG_0134.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes. This. </td></tr>
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Oops. Big oops.<br />
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We had been in the house exactly <strong>2 days</strong> when I tried to move the furniture by myself. Our heavy, long, 7 drawer dresser that still had all the filled drawers in it. I had no idea it was so heavy, and absolutely no frickin' clue that hard wood floors were so insanely soft. I have moved my furniture dozens of times in our past home, with its laminate floors!<br />
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2 days. Can you imagine my husband's face if I told him I put a big long scratch in our floor after only 2 days in?!<br />
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So to save my marriage and my husband's sanity, my shoe has not moved from that spot in 2 weeks. Until today.<br />
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(And of course he didn't notice!)<br />
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I had read somewhere - <em>I bet you can guess where; it starts with a P and rhymes with Hinterest</em> - that walnuts could be used to restore wood coloring on old furniture, and, yes, on wood floors. When they showed up on sale at Sprouts, I threw a few in a baggie and $.38 later walked out with the equivalent of a marriage life vest. <br />
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At home, I took those walnuts, got down on my hands and knees and found......<br />
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that it worked.<br />
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It worked!<br />
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See, the scratch is still there. There is nothing I can do about it except pray that we keep our furniture in the exact same spot our entire time in this house. Nothing can take it back. But the walnut did make it <em>so</em> much less noticeable. It is not glaringly obvious when you walk into the room that THERE IS A SCRATCH ON THE FLOOR. Now you must look for it. <br />
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And he is none the wiser. Unless he reads this blog.....Me Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02217022145109147260noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489108742044112129.post-2768799411737824252014-10-18T19:44:00.001-07:002014-10-18T19:44:43.496-07:00Happy Halloween!Of all the things I strive to be, a Pinterest Mom is one of them. I yearn to have a pretty mantle, a decorative gallery of pictures and wall paint that doesn't look remotely like "tan". I want to blog, takes daily pictures of activities, and those crafts that don't turn out quite as well as expected - I want them to come out much much better.<br />
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But I am a Wannabe. Oddly enough, I'm content here, too. (After all, they know me here.)<br />
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See, I pin and search and look and ooh and aaahh, but then I also go out and DO.<br />
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It rarely turns out as I hope. It rarely turns out better. It usually turns out like a 3rd graders art project.<br />
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And my kids love it.<br />
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(There's also rarely any expectations for me. Not like my friend, the baker. She makes ah-mazing homemade muffins and breads to bring to the park. The expectations are set high for her. My Little Debbies snack cake contribution to the play date wouldn't feel right coming from her. It's par for the course for me. I set the bar low.)<br />
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Last year for Halloween, I "pinned" a Frankenstein door decor. I had no idea how I would do it, after mentioning it to my boy, it had to happen. You know how that is.. After much searching, I finally found a green trash bag and some poster board. For better or for worse, his door was set.<br />
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He left it up until Christmas. (Which is when I let them choose a roll of wrapping paper from the store to "wrap" their door in. Probably the only reason he allowed me to take down Frankie.)<br />
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This year he asked to do it again, but I couldn't find the green trash bag.<br />
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I found something so much better.<br />
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Green bulletin board paper from JoAnns. (Sold in a roll for $7.99. I got almost two doors worth out of one roll. On a side note - did you know that Joann's accepts mobile coupons from other retailers? I had a 50% off one item coupon from JoAnn's and a 50% off one item coupon from Michaels, and I used both on the same transaction. Like a BOGO deal! Fab, right?!) <br />
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So not only did he get Frankie again this year, but his sister received a slightly less scary monster - Mike Wisowsky from Monsters Inc. (Which she then made me remove after one night because "the door paper is too loud, Mommy". My little Princess and the Pea.)<br />
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It's not perfect. Not by a long shot. But Bjorn loves it.<br />
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He came home from school the day I prepped everything for his door (because <i>of course</i> I let them hang it up themselves, that's half the fun!) and saw the mess I made of the kitchen cutting and gluing.<br />
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"Well, someone sure had fun making a big mess, didn't they?" he said, knowingly. <br />
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He's FIVE, people. Do normal five year olds say things like that?!<br />
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But he knows I like to make things. I like to craft. He loves it too. Most days he asks me if he can paint, or cut, or glue or create. Last week he searched the house looking for the perfect box to turn into a puppet theater, and he couldn't start the show until it was cut and glued and colored to perfection. Like mother, like son.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4WYf0KGPNo9eawogwNRGJhn5eFBZo0N193zs_akxQUvNMmHWZE5s1-BvTb8pY587ThAUJn6RtL7nmk0N-iTIs3n_OTnTEBy9n-ZJyR1p3mltAlKgz5YnZ_04-Ja1wHeWQW5LTqdZSfM/s1600/photo+1+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4WYf0KGPNo9eawogwNRGJhn5eFBZo0N193zs_akxQUvNMmHWZE5s1-BvTb8pY587ThAUJn6RtL7nmk0N-iTIs3n_OTnTEBy9n-ZJyR1p3mltAlKgz5YnZ_04-Ja1wHeWQW5LTqdZSfM/s1600/photo+1+(4).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy halloween!!!</td></tr>
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<br />Me Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02217022145109147260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489108742044112129.post-43879424514288797302014-06-29T16:35:00.000-07:002014-06-29T20:46:47.426-07:00On a Silver PlatterFor Christmas or Mother's Day or Housewarming or something, my awesome Brother-In-Law bought my MIL a cheese tray. A beautiful cheese tray with a chalkboard top, so whenever we have those aperitifs of stinky cheese and crackers that we love, we can know exactly what kind of stinky cheese it is that we are eating.<br />
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I loved it.<br />
<br />
And I immediately thought, "I could make that!"<br />
<br />
So when I saw a $1 "silver" platter at a garage sale recently - with scalloped edges and a simple, flowery design in the middle - I knew at once that it was perfect for a tester tray. I didn't want to spend $20+ at an antique store for a tray that may turn out horribly wrong, so $1 for a nice looking, probably aluminum - but could pass for silver to the inexperienced eye like mine - platter was perfect.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguziQNsoT9lX56mj26fn0dv7sLMhyphenhyphenAaqRfvIGu9iikYrN_54IvW4qxxCvheaSJoqAzBVJHzXVM8bbW-k8a59Iw4liw5vVD93SjeIiioirOSQN7pkdI8F7paVT_NI5pzLo-I5IuXRx2HeU/s1600/photo+1+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguziQNsoT9lX56mj26fn0dv7sLMhyphenhyphenAaqRfvIGu9iikYrN_54IvW4qxxCvheaSJoqAzBVJHzXVM8bbW-k8a59Iw4liw5vVD93SjeIiioirOSQN7pkdI8F7paVT_NI5pzLo-I5IuXRx2HeU/s1600/photo+1+%25281%2529.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My $1 "Silver" platter find!</td></tr>
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I already had the chalkboard paint from a previous project, and some cheap foam paintbrushes from kiddie crafts. They would do the trick.<br />
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After thoroughly washing and drying it, I began outlining the scalloped edge with my paintbrush and chalkboard paint. I wasn't concerned with doing a good job covering completely, as long as my edging was even. I figured I could even everything else out in the end.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rHfHX_ejfACZTVcp4T06eXEK3EM7Hle-04tZHUVkNHSODM5d7fW0kOhHfWJjtva9lDiim_lzmv0JRP4D5pCYF3l4ngjU0UIsPxefRqwJ2lZ1sMex2z7e5sZzuwzJANVvh3eorHyb-vU/s1600/photo+3+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rHfHX_ejfACZTVcp4T06eXEK3EM7Hle-04tZHUVkNHSODM5d7fW0kOhHfWJjtva9lDiim_lzmv0JRP4D5pCYF3l4ngjU0UIsPxefRqwJ2lZ1sMex2z7e5sZzuwzJANVvh3eorHyb-vU/s1600/photo+3+%25281%2529.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hubs asked if it was "self-leveling" paint. Guess it looked a little uneven!</td></tr>
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After coating it with one very uneven coat, I waited for it to dry. About 1/2 an hour.<br />
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I then painted another coat of paint, waited, then another, waited and then another. Total, I painted 4 coats of paint.<br />
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By the time the fourth coat of paint had dried, I was ready to draw a little note and set up my new platter.<br />
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I love how it turned out! It has a natural scalloped edging, which made the platter a little girly and old-fashioned looking, and gave me a very easy outline to work with.<br />
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Right now it is set up on our buffet, marking the spot in our Wine A to Z challenge*. When we have our next cheese and cracker night, it will be very simple to wipe it off and label our cheeses!<br />
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I love using chalkboard paint, and I have found that a little goes a very low way. What's your favorite thing to do with chalkboard paint?<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*Our Wine A to Z challenge is our challenge to ourselves to be a little more exploratory in our wine selection, to step out of the comfort zone of Pinot Noir, in the brand offered at Costco. Last October, on our anniversary, we began with an "A" wine (Apothic, then Blackstone, etc) - the name on the label, not the type (Merlot, etc). I gave up alcohol for Lent this year, so that slowed us down a little, but as you can tell from the sign, we are currently on "T". The "A to Z" wine shown on the right will be the last one we drink in this challenge (following our "Z"), and then its onto our next challenge......Beers from A to Z!</span><br />
<br />Me Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02217022145109147260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489108742044112129.post-19558319780749314912014-05-04T21:27:00.002-07:002014-05-04T21:46:40.405-07:00Annie Sloan Chalk Paint: An eye-opening experienceFirst off, I want to remind everyone when you are using painting materials of any kind, that if you get paint in your eye - or even if you think you <i>might have maybe</i> rubbed a little bit of paint in your eye (or, say, Annie Sloan dark wax) - immediately flush it out. DO NOT think that since your eye didn't hurt immediately, that you are fine, and then wake up the next morning with your eye swollen shut and call in sick to work so you can go to the optometrist so he can tell you you have a slight chemical irritation but not, as you were imagining, a chemical burn, <i>thank God</i>.<br />
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I'm just saying. Flush that stuff out.<br />
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Sooo....where was I?<br />
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Oh, yes. My first Annie Sloan Chalk Paint experience.<br />
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I chose a tiered shelf that has been in my kitchen since college. My mom gave it to me when they moved from Texas, and she said that <i>she thought it</i> <i>might have probabl</i>y <i>was </i>made by my grandpa (her Dad). It was definitely handmade by someone - and beautifully - so I choose to think that it was by Grandpa. For all purposes, and for the sake of argument, it was.<br />
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But it never really was my sort of thing. I kept it because, well, it was Grandpa's. You don't just toss family pieces into a garage sale. You have to find a way to take these old pieces and turn them into yours.<br />
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I knew I wanted to keep Grandpa's shelf, and I knew I wanted to use the insanely expensive Annie Sloan paint. I was not going to waste $13 on 4 oz of paint for furniture I didn't want to keep forever. I wanted to turn Grandpa's shelf into one I adored looking at, day after day.<br />
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I prepped the shelf with a thorough cleaning, top to bottom. Years of neglect came off, and it shone nicked and scratched and ready in the sunlight.<br />
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Which might have been my first mistake.<br />
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This paint dried immediately. Like, as I was brushing it on, it was <i>already dry</i>.<br />
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I had heard it was fast-drying, but I expected to be able to start the second stroke before the first one was finished. That's seriously how quick it dried.<br />
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I'm not sure if it was because I wasn't using enough paint, or if it was because I live in Phoenix, where there is absolutely no breeze or humidity whatsoever, and I was in the sun. But my multi-tasking idea to combine a suntan with a paint job was not my best one.<br />
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I moved into the shade, and began painting again.<br />
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It dried a little slower, but still quicker than I expected. I piled on the paint, trying to cover it before it dried again. It was a race between me and the paint. And in painting as in real life, I have the tendency to lay it on a little thick. The top layer looks great, but feels much thicker than the others.<br />
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After the first level, I decided to not worry so much about creating a completely covered first layer, as I was going to "distress" it later. I could cover with a second layer later.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNiIZo-xW1mN30nTZFhbQi0b74C9HXO_zjuveXqaqN5W7kWD3y-mSh7JZ2bFmWyAGnKgy4YU1JMF_dkJSsy8D6Dp2antmVbGzsccb8JxXfYzrsryK4Gxet8qr-NEpX5m5oWkjfD9OYFPQ/s1600/iphone+191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNiIZo-xW1mN30nTZFhbQi0b74C9HXO_zjuveXqaqN5W7kWD3y-mSh7JZ2bFmWyAGnKgy4YU1JMF_dkJSsy8D6Dp2antmVbGzsccb8JxXfYzrsryK4Gxet8qr-NEpX5m5oWkjfD9OYFPQ/s1600/iphone+191.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYmyybK9dVjhJYMW-meD4zu3R4L1D8IhbcXLT4vFDLNttglopWYd8UxtxoKFf6fV1MBvolKlb-k2YHndYDFgYEAL-fk8PskxfsHfO3Ih3sf1L4FAAtOiX8EbnFsTnawj9lGoxtANO6Iw/s1600/iphone+197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYmyybK9dVjhJYMW-meD4zu3R4L1D8IhbcXLT4vFDLNttglopWYd8UxtxoKFf6fV1MBvolKlb-k2YHndYDFgYEAL-fk8PskxfsHfO3Ih3sf1L4FAAtOiX8EbnFsTnawj9lGoxtANO6Iw/s1600/iphone+197.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Besides, I had this little teeny tiny container of paint, and I was worried about how much I was using. I had heard Annie Sloan chalk paint covered well, and very little was needed. I may be an optimist, but when a tub of paint costs you $13, I definitely see it as half empty.<br />
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Even though the paint seemed dry enough to try a second coat immediately, I decided to give it the recommended 20 minutes, and I headed inside to watch few more "How to Paint" videos.<br />
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I came back armed with some useful advice. With my second coat, I would dip the paintbrush in my hard hat full of water (because I was just thatlazy to go inside and get a cup), then dip the brush into my paint. And it covered like magic.<br />
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<i>Magic</i>, I tell you.<br />
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The next time I paint with Annie Sloan chalk paint, I will be using the water trick from the start (maaaaybe not from my kids dress up construction hat, though). The paint went on smooth and easily. It took more than a few seconds to dry, so I had time to brush through my amateur brush strokes and globs before they were immortailzed forever.<br />
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I was a little worried that the paint would be thinner, or a slightly different color. Not at all. I used barely any water. I thought of myself as Jessica Simpson in the old Proactiv commercial. "<i>Just a dab will do ya."</i> I didn't pour any water into the paint, but carefully controlled how little I wet the brush each time.<br />
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I was incredibly happy with the end painting result. And with how much paint was left; I still had almost 1/2 this teeny container left and I was finished painting!<br />
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But I still wasn't done with the shelf.<br />
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A friend had asked me what I wanted from this project, and I told her "I don't want it to be distressed, necessarily, but I don't want it to be matte-picture perfect, either."<br />
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Enter: Annie Sloan dark wax.<br />
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(This is where I have to give credit to The Hubs. I wanted a nice, clear wax and he steered me toward the dark wax, which would give it a more complex, darker look. This is also where I shout out to <a href="http://greentablegifts.blogspot.com/">Green Table Gifts</a> in Tempe, AZ, who, instead of making a sale on this uber pricey wax, stopped me from buying the Clear Wax as a base, and then spent 10 minutes talking me through using the Dark Wax only, contrary to what the AS website says. Check out her store if you're in the Phoenix area. I will be!)<br />
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The woman at Green Table Gifts told me NOT to wax in circles, as is our tendency. (Wax on, wax off, anyone?!) Wax in straight, unbroken lines, and then come back to rub off that wax with a dry, clean white cloth. I used an old white shirt and white socks of The Hubs'. (What? Like I was going to use my own? No way.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGpORUuFdP4w3PCizME7DY73I9_jmRRAbqk6rsnZ1V1tupqH6F4UlnG2CqDIZaolu7EriSIluidGio1hhn7-AMoEY8I-MurSnvTt5cq5ZezMIOr6Gm7LSBsOVYvYqwSrCa1p4TTLhWnE/s1600/iphone+207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGpORUuFdP4w3PCizME7DY73I9_jmRRAbqk6rsnZ1V1tupqH6F4UlnG2CqDIZaolu7EriSIluidGio1hhn7-AMoEY8I-MurSnvTt5cq5ZezMIOr6Gm7LSBsOVYvYqwSrCa1p4TTLhWnE/s1600/iphone+207.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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This took the longest time. It was a learning experience, and I started on the back, figuring out how it worked before I ventured to the front.<br />
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Again, think Jess Simpson in Proactiv - <i>less</i> than a little dab will do you. The paint sucks up all the wax you put, so you can make it as dark or as subtle as you like. I chose a more subtle look, but it is still dark in places. Which I like, as it fits with the slightly-distressed-but-not-really look I was hoping for.<br />
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I dabbed the tiniest bit on the old sock, swiped across in a straight line, in sections about a foot or so long, and then came back with a piece of the white shirt to rub the wax off again. Seems silly to put it on just to wipe it off, but the after-effect is perfect. My only problem at first was using the entire t-shirt. I learned quickly that I needed smaller pieces to work with, so I cut it up.<br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZzGWs3rstQKCEvzP712GSltdEmkQeQBBBj3TwvJv3H1YmXthlebDfg_vy4mkGSCEu8ESL7WxjSKv61hqhY9ZrTcpGlm504eNPjl38BTuzmGEpHhJhOQg9VP59gXCAtt5jSDtd_J9C-Y/s1600/iphone+209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZzGWs3rstQKCEvzP712GSltdEmkQeQBBBj3TwvJv3H1YmXthlebDfg_vy4mkGSCEu8ESL7WxjSKv61hqhY9ZrTcpGlm504eNPjl38BTuzmGEpHhJhOQg9VP59gXCAtt5jSDtd_J9C-Y/s1600/iphone+209.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See the difference with the dark wax and no wax at all? It's like a totally different paint!</td></tr>
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<br />
Longer places, such as the top of the shelves, tended to look a little uneven, and while I like that look, my next project is a sideboard given to me by someone I consider a surrogate Grandma. It has one long top, so the wax has to look a little more even. I will be taking a How To class on Annie Sloan paint and wax before venturing to that piece.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmepH4RnXBLGqNxYRM4exY-dEgaL3VYbQh9irwiChyphenhyphenJEAHLJoDoLE3O6fbUKNGlYdvJrdK-8vHYs8rkRfrDFjk6EP1otetixkq9xVvkKS90Sga_gA0PErKWOl4bJgT1XfJ17g_EJR9_k/s1600/iphone+214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmepH4RnXBLGqNxYRM4exY-dEgaL3VYbQh9irwiChyphenhyphenJEAHLJoDoLE3O6fbUKNGlYdvJrdK-8vHYs8rkRfrDFjk6EP1otetixkq9xVvkKS90Sga_gA0PErKWOl4bJgT1XfJ17g_EJR9_k/s1600/iphone+214.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I also used a small paintbrush to fill in places my large brush missed - like the tight corners shown above.</td></tr>
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I began at 1:17 pm. I ended at 3:32. From start to finish, including breaks and rests and picture taking, my project took <i>a little over 2 hours</i>.<br />
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I brought that shelf in my house an hour after,that less than 3 hours from the start of the project, de-cluttered a little and it was ready for use. That, in my mind, is a good enough reason to buy Annie Sloan chalk paint. I was able to complete an entire project in an afternoon after work while my kids were in daycare. I didn't put the shelf in the garage to dry for a few days, and then forget about it until I had more time. It was done, and back in its place in my kitchen, in less time than it takes to smoke a brisket.<br />
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Totally worth it.<br />
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And I love it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpnhiy4bG6Tt8_V5s2IxIU7HhKyaQ-LLQcQOWa57b2jA7MmFde7HK7Itgtf1zZGL7EEqD9jgKDYooQ3OYs356ZFgmcHC8-242yA7ab3Hhh4DEUHGpLaYuMI8fn0JmRUPlgkz-J2SCJTo/s1600/IMG_4026%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpnhiy4bG6Tt8_V5s2IxIU7HhKyaQ-LLQcQOWa57b2jA7MmFde7HK7Itgtf1zZGL7EEqD9jgKDYooQ3OYs356ZFgmcHC8-242yA7ab3Hhh4DEUHGpLaYuMI8fn0JmRUPlgkz-J2SCJTo/s1600/IMG_4026%5B1%5D.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made the "O" too. Uber easy. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I love the color. I love the style. I love the way it brightens up an oft seen corner of our kitchen. But most of all, I love that it feels like even though Grandpa has been gone for many years, it is almost like we made this shelf together. A real family piece. I love it.Me Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02217022145109147260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489108742044112129.post-87389958841527423542010-02-14T15:56:00.001-08:002010-02-14T16:04:09.193-08:00And so it begins. . . . . .Welcome to my newest blog!! (Yes, this does make THREE blogs. And who says I never have free time???)<br /><br />But I had to start another. I have one for the <a href="http://buninthetoaster.blogspot.com/">Best Thing I Have Ever Made</a> (I had a little help with it) and <a href="http://anextinctangel.blogspot.com/">one</a> that I haven't updated in<em> months</em> and now this one. A blog all the second best things I have ever made. . . .<br /><br />The title is a tribute to my best friend. In college we would antique and goodwill (and, <em>yes,</em> those are verbs) only to stop ourselves, arms full, just as we got to the checkout. "<em>We could make that!" </em><br /><em></em><br />Then we would go back to our college house filled with fun, laughter and as many <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">scrapbooking</span> scissors as they make . . . .<br /><br />and promptly forget about anything we just saw.<br /><br />This blog is my string on a finger. My post it note. My blackberry appointment reminder. Maybe if I have a blog, I can actually remember all the things I want to make.<br /><br />And then make them.<br /><br />Wanna join me? Because you know that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">everytime</span> you peruse that Over-Priced-But-Incredibly-Cute catalog, you think, "<em>I could make that!"</em>Me Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02217022145109147260noreply@blogger.com1