Ta-Da!

Remember this not-so-little "beauty"? My found treasure left behind by the previous owner of my house...

... nice detail though, and lots of potential.

I really debated what to do with the frame, but it came down to a cork board or a chalk board. Although a chalkboard would be really cute in this frame, I'm not sure I would get much use out of it... so I decided to go with cork. At first I was worried I wouldn't find a big enough piece of cork, but eventually I found a roll at the hardware store (oddly, the rolls I found at the craft stores weren't big enough!)

I started by cutting the paper backing off of the picture... by the way, there was a price tag on the picture... $130!! After removing the paper I found staples and staples and staples. I ended up pulling out 46 of them! Overkill.

I cleaned up the frame with some paper towels and light cleaner and started painting it (Parchment White, of course). I wanted to make sure to cover all the details without lots of globs of paint, so I used a sponge brush, then dry-brushed with a paint brush, which meant the paint dried faster, but it was pretty thin, so I ended up doing about 3 coats, I think.

Meanwhile, I cut a piece of cork to match the size of the picture. The mats and picture were all glued together, otherwise I would've tried to salvage and reuse the large mat. I glued the cork to the back of the mat, put it all back together, and used a staple gun to staple it in place... using far fewer staples this time.

Here's a shot of the detail now... Much, much better, yes?

... and here is the finished product!

I hung it in the living room, just to take the picture, but it will be going into my newly remodeled office/craft room (which is far from being furnished and decorated), but I just couldn't bear to pound a nail into the wall yet (check that out here and here).

Anyway, I'm happy with the finished product! I think it's probably the prettiest cork board I've ever had. Woohoo!

What do you think?

I am tickled pink to be linking up again with DIY Day @ A Soft Place to Land! Please go check out all the amazing projects over there! I look forward to DIY Day every week!

Stuffed

I gotta say, I'm stuffed. I ate a LOT of food this weekend... I guess Thanksgiving will do that to you. I enjoyed spending time with my family and being away from work stress and I think the puppies had a good time playing with their puppy cousins.

I have been working on few projects lately that I'm really excited to share with you in the upcoming days!! So be on the lookout!

I can't wait to hear about your Thanksgiving feasts!

Quote of the Day...

Today, a client told me:

"Well...you haven't said anything to make me think you're dumb."

I replied, "That really warms my heart."

Thrifty Finds!

Today was all about shopping for some great deals... and running a few errands, like picking up my dry cleaning. Side note: why is dry cleaning so dang expensive? Grr.

Anyway, I finally made it to ReStore, which I've been dying to check out. I didn't find anything today, but they have so much stuff there! Paint too! I need to keep that in mind for future projects. I also stopped at a hardware store and got something for another project, but that is for another post.

The absolute highlight of my shopping was my awesome find at Goodwill. I was trying to find some holiday stuff, but as usual, I checked out the books and frames, and then strolled through the dishes and glassware. And then, there she was, on the bottom shelf... a Fiesta pitcher! (I apologize for picture quality- I only had the camera on my phone).

I think I gasped. My hand shot out to snatch her off the shelf. Price? $19.99. The cost of a brand new pitcher is about $46. I quickly consulted my friend and Fiesta aficionado, Nacole, and she looked it up online. We realized it was a retired color (periwinkle)! Woohoo! I've wanted a pitcher like this for a while. I clutched the pitcher to my chest as I finished looking around the store. What a find! Woohoo!

At the Salvation Army store I found a frame and 2 brand new books (Marie Antoinette: The Journey & The Boleyn Inheritance) for a grand total of $2.87! Yay!

I also saw a cute turquoise typewriter. It was a compact model...with a cover that turned into a carrying case. How cute. I wish I needed a typewriter! Liz, at Mabel's House, would probably love this typewriter!! It would match her cool vintage turquoise phone... and lots of other turquoise stuff...girl loves her some turquoise!

Have you found any great deals lately?

Finders Keepers

One of the most surprisingly fun parts about buying a house has been discovering some of the stuff left behind by the previous owner.

It's kind of like finding treasure... although some things take a little more imagination and creativity! Anywho, since I have a little imagination and some creativity, I thought it would be fun, and would help me recharge my battery, to do make use of some of the stuff I've found. And naturally, I'd share them here with you.

Another found treasure. Apparently the previous owner decided to leave it hanging in my bedroom because "it matches the curtains." Indeed. It does match the curtains. But, ahem, is really not my style.

It's actually a pretty big picture. And the frame does have some nice detail:

But I am completely torn about what to do with it! That's where I need your help. Obviously I'm going to paint the frame (probably Parchment White). I keep thinking about making it into a cork board or chalkboard for my new and improved office/craft room. Then I thought of framing a piece of bold fabric or paper... but I'm not sure about it. It is pretty big. I'm not sure if I can get a roll of cork board that will allow me to use 1 whole piece.

What do you think? Any thoughts about how I can use this?

That Time I Nearly Burned the House Down Wanted to Make a Pretty Lantern

So I'll admit it, I've been bookmarking DIY projects like crazy lately. I've been itching to do some small projects that are quick, cheap, and easy, but I have been thwarted in my efforts for one reason or another.

Imagine my excitement when I saw this project over at A Beach Cottage! Quick, cheap, and easy! Perfect!


I was excited about using some winter-y, Christmas-y quotes from favorite movies and songs... imagining a few little lanterns casting a lovely warm glow on a cold winter night.

I had all the stuff on hand...

Before I lit my candle inside my paper lantern, I reminded myself to be careful... fire and paper and twine, oh my!

I carefully lit the tea light and stood back. Hmm. The little candle holder cast a shadow where the edge was, which, of course, was right through my quote. I tried another candle holder, and since my first tea light was hot, I got out another. Same thing. Hmm. Well crap.

Then, an epiphany! Why not just take away the holder?! I had this little glass coaster-like candle holder for a pillar candle, so I could just put the tea light on that, set the paper "lantern" on the coaster thingy and be done! So I got out another tea light (as the others were hot and nestled snugly inside candle holders), set it on the coaster, lit it, and set the paper lantern down. Perfect! No shadows or lines! I silently congratulated myself for tackling such a tough problem while also cooking a nutritious dinner.

Wait a sec... a freestanding, somewhat flimsy paper cylinder with a tea light inside? An open flame? One overzealous wagging tail, a draft from the door opening and closing, a person walking by, nearly anything could make that thing flop over and catch fire.

Granted, I don't usually leave any candles burning unattended, but cripes. What the heck was I thinking?!

Project aborted.

Rants & Raves

Main Entry: ¹rant

Pronunciation: \ˈrant\

intransitive verb
1 : to talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner
2 : to scold vehemently

Rant: I dropped my dry cleaning off yesterday morning before 9 am. I can't pick it up until after 4 pm on Friday. Friday! 4 pm! Is it just me or is that a little ridiculous?!

Main Entry: ¹rave

Pronunciation: \ˈrāv\

intransitive verb
1 a : to talk irrationally in or as if in delirium b : to speak out wildly c : to talk with extreme enthusiasm <raved about its beauty>

Rave: Trader Joe's Cranberry Apple Butter and Pumpkin Butter is so yummy on toast! I actually had the cran-apple this morning with a little peanut butter too! Yum!

Rant: Nurses that call and leave their cryptic nurse-y messages to call them back. Trust me, I get the need for privacy, confidentiality, etc., etc., but come on! A little indication like, "no need for concern" would be really nice. (And yes, it truly was "no need for concern"...though I DO need to get the chicken pox vaccine. Yup, I have not had the chicken pox and given my work, it's good for me to get the vaccine ASAP.)

Rave: The movie I Love You, Man. I've seen it a few times now and it cracks me up every time! It was great when I wasn't feeling well the other night and curled up on the couch with a blanket and a bowl of chicken soup.

I guess that's all my Rants and Raves for the moment...Do you have any major rants or raves right now?

My Mood Ring is a Filthy Brown

I need a vacation. Badly.

I ran some errands after work today and ended up going the wrong way ... twice... to run out for dog food. No...no, this was not the first time I was going to this particular store.

I was borderline muttering to myself while pushing/sliding my ridiculously defunct shopping cart in the scary Walmart (more stores need to carry this stupid dog food!). I hate scary Walmart. (Obviously I wanted to go to the un-scary Walmart, but went the wrong way...twice.)

The puppies are feeling my stress too, I think. Tonight after finally getting home, I saw that it had snowed in my living room... The puppies tore up my very last throw pillow. They've torn up tissues from my bathroom trash a few times, and have gotten sales ads off the kitchen counter and shredded those. Maybe the puppies need a vacation too?

There have been many instances lately when I have actually uttered the words, "I don't wanna help people today." Did I mention that I HELP PEOPLE FOR A LIVING?!

I've been perusing vacation sites, I've ordered a vacation guide, and have been obsessively daydreaming about a nameless spa in the desert somewhere.

I need a vacation.

Fun with Bruxism...

Or not.

I've been clenching my teeth again. This week has been awful...I've been in pain every day, all day. My teeth hurt, my head hurts, and my jaw hurts. Ugh. I hate this.

So after work I stopped and bought a new mouthguard (since Lilly used my last one) and plan to use it tonight. I think I'm going to take a really hot bath and go to bed really early. Maybe tomorrow will be better!

I Forgot My Cheese!

...and I have been looking forward to it all morning! I was so ready to enjoy my Laughing Cow Swiss cheese on my little garlic toasts ...but no. It wasn't meant to be. Instead, I bet that the dogs are at home, enjoying my Laughing Cow cheese, as I'm fairly certain I forgot it on the counter this morning in my semi-frantic-running-late-dash-out-the-door!

Grrr!

And how is your Daylight Saving Time Monday going???