Furniture Restoration

Click the photo for a better view of the image.

A few years ago I refinished this ugly ugly ugly dresser, but never got a chance to show it off. Can you believe how different the two look? The decoration on the drawers were actually plastic plates that were glued on. Taking them off was a chore, but when I got them off I had a beautiful modern dresser to work with.

The staining of the wood was a different story. Making up my own technique I painted it first a dark brown and let it dry. Then I took a dark brown stain and stained it with a cloth. I wasn't sure how the wood would take the stain itself since the wood color was lighter in some parts and darker in others. Painting it first not only worked but still let the wood grain show through.

I threw on some new handles from Ikea and called it a day.

Total refurbish cost around $50.00!

FYI the finished dresser isn't that shiny. It is just the horrible camera I used to take this picture.

A completed project! Yay!

I completed a blank hardcover journal today. Not perfect, but good enough for me to share with you!

Crepe Paper Rose

FYI this is the very first crepe paper rose I have created so I am sure they will continue to look better with practice.

Another completed project! Woohoo! That's right kids not just a project but a completed project! Remember when I used to have 5,000 started projects and just as many ideas for new projects?? The benefit of my previous self is that I have enough supplies to craft for the rest of my life. Not that I will reject any supplies anyone wants to send my way. :)

These flowers are created from crepe paper. If you would like to learn how to create these Martha Stewart has a video here.

To see these photos in more detail just click on the slide show, this will take you to my picassa album.

Question for you: How much would you pay for this flower or for the flowers from my wedding?? Any ideas?

Stop your lunch from being stolen ever again!

This is a little gross, but funny enough to share.

The best part is the product description:

"Tired of having your food stolen by sticky-fingered coworkers or roommates? Bullies taking your kids lunch? Well if so worry no more! Anti-theft Lunch Bags are sandwich bags that have green splotches printed on both sides, making your freshly prepared lunch look spoiled. Dont suffer the injustice of having your sandwich stolen again! Protect your lunch with Anti-Theft Lunch Bags! "

... and of course it is made out of recycled products. LOL

This item is available at PerpetualKid.

Brighten your walls and stay inspired.

Jen Wallace the writer behind the blog Indie Fixx recently began Feed Your Soul: the free art project. Every month she will share FREE ART by various artists. What a great way to share a little love!

I fell in love with this smashing print posted here. It will look right at home next to my overflowing bookcase.

Any of these prints, printed and framed, will add a little whimsy to any house. Use your imagination and combine the prints to create wall art that will inspire your daily life.

To show off this and other artwork I continually find I plan to purchase the dynamic art frame. This frame opens from the front (like a cabinet) and displays the current print. It is easy to change the prints and keep your wall looking new and fresh. What a great way to brighten your day!

Diaper Cake

I help to host a baby shower last weekend. This was THE baby shower to attend. Joy looked beautiful and radiant. I can't wait to meet this little girl growing in my best friends tummy. What a miracle.

First I have to confess I have never been to a baby shower before. Yes, that's right folks I was a baby shower virgin.

Imagine then my surprise when Joy asks that I make a "diaper cake"! My internal dialogue went something like this...

"WHAT?? A DIAPER cake?"
"I can't bake"
"Why would anyone want a cake that looks like a diaper?
"That is disturbing".

Being a kind friend I didn't comment on how disturbed I was by this idea, but instead suggest that an actual baker take on this task. She explained that the cake was made out of diapers, again this idea is so foreign to me I can't even begin to imagine what that would mean. Joy kindly suggested that I google it. To my utter shock there is a whole world filled with diapers in the shape of cakes.

For the first time in my life here was a craft that I couldn't even imagine how to make. This is where You Tube comes in and this lovely little tutorial on how to make a diaper cake. (If you would like to see it click here). This is one of those crafts that looks time consuming to create. In actuality, after collecting the supplies, the creation is rather easy and quick. I was helped by my aunt and her friend, which made the process even snappier.

Now I am obsessed! what else can I create into a cake? What about a Tshirt cake... or even better I can create Brian's laundry into a cake, isn't that so much more fun that just folding shirts and pants?

Off to go do laundry, If Brian's underwear suddenly looks like a confection I will be sure to post it here.

(FYI just click on the photo to see a larger image of our beautiful diaper cake)

"Home is where the heart is"

The movers have come and gone. It took 48 hours and lots of sweat, but our apartment is empty.

Looking around, I am moved by how empty everything seems. My home is empty, but I don't feel homeless. I expected to feel a sense of loss, but I don't. This isn't a move to find belonging, in fact, I have never belonged more. I belong to a family, a husband and friends. However cliche it is true... "Home IS where the heart is!"

This is something I understood intellectually for years. It is hard not to grasp that concept when you move often throughout childhood. As an adult I moved trying to find things that were missing within me. I moved away from failures hoping to reinvent the life that I wanted. Didn't you all wonder why I moved so often? Well, there it is.

Now I understand the concept fully. I am not lacking, I am not moving away from failure. This move isn't about those things. As I relocate I am taking my "home" with me. A home where I belong.

St. Louis Here We Come!!!

Adios, Austin! Hello, St. Louis!

Brian just got his job "official" job offer and I can now say we are definitely moving to St. Louis. We still have no idea when we will have to be up there, but I am hopeful it will be after the wedding. We are so excited and thrilled to begin our marriage with such a wonderful opportunity.

Of course, there is some anxiety. As many of you know that I have been seeing a wonderful psychiatrist, Dr. Alam. Moving means leaving that security. The success and mental health that she has helped me to obtain is something I don't want to leave behind. I am confidant that she will help me find a solution. I trust that God will lead me to a new psychiatrist.

Brian keeps reminding me that we are moving TOWARDS a wonderful support system. One of my best friends, Genevieve, lives in St. Louis. My Mom and brother are only a short 4 hour drive away and I can easily hop on a plane to visit my Dad once a month. This is helping to keep everything in perspective.

Please, pray for us.

My First Embroidery Project

Thought I would show off my first embroidery project. I did this on a Tshirt and it is so cute.

I am having a bird addiction at the moment, anything bird and whimsical I am loving. Hopefully the bird obsession doesn't evolve, because before you know it I will be embroidering Turkeys and there is NOTHING cute about a turkey. Of course, there is somthing YUMMY about a turkey, but I digress (food always does that to me).

If you want to learn how to do embroidery here are some links you will love!
For the beginner check out Stitchtopia and for some more advanced projects I love The Purl Bee's two color embroidery tutorial.

Invitations Arrive!

My invitations have finally arrived. Now I can work on getting these out to everyone. This is just a preview, but I am so excited I just had to share.

To me the invitation sets the tone of the wedding. Guests get a first look at the color and aesthetic. As they say you only get one chance to make a first impression.

I can't wait for them to arrive in your mailbox.

Paper Flowers

Featured above paper flower kits from the Paper Source

With the cost of weddings ever rising, I say Take a Stand, Go Paper!! Paper flowers are so beautiful. As you all know I LOVE PAPER.

I plan to use these paper flowers for my wedding. They are simple to make and quite fast (0-completion in 30 minutes).

But, they don't bring the fragrance of real flowers you say? Simple Solution: Add a small fragrant sachet to the flower center. Hopefully soon I will have step by step photos of the design process for these flowers, look for that soon.

Wedding Design Inspiration

My Wedding Design Inspiration Board

I'm Engaged

 
 
 
 

Khula Happy Singers St. Lucia from Jan van der Meer on Vimeo