Paint Chip Calendar

I've been looking for different DIY calendar ideas - to help keep my family on track for appointments, etc.  Looking at my Pinterest boards (here,here and here) , there were quite a few "paint chip calendars".  So, I decided to try my hand at one.


I scoured the house for a suitably sized frame, but couldn't find one that had the right feel for my kitchen. So off to Hobby Lobby I went! (Any excuse is a good one...)


Going to our Hobby Lobby isn't a simple out-n-back.  It's 50 miles away... but so worth the drive.  Trying to avoid large crowds, I went early. Since I hadn't been there in a while and I was ALL BY MYSELF, I took the time to slowly shop the store. PAY OFF - on the clearance aisle, I found these beautiful frames for $8.00 - marked down from $39.99! Yes, I bought four...they're gorgeous and if I can't find a use for them, my hubby will use them to frame his photography. Happy girl...

The frame was a little dark for the kitchen, so it got a coat of heritage white spray paint...and some distressing on the embellished edge...and a little stain to age it.
(Sorry!  I forgot to take photos of that part!)


Next, I went through the scrapbook paper I've been hoarding collecting and found something that complemented the paint chip colors I chose. Scrapbooking adhesive worked to adhere the paper directly to the frame backing (?) - you know, the part that holds the picture and glass in place.

I had picked up the paint chips at my local hardware store - the same place I buy all my paint, rationalizing that I had spent so much on paint, they could throw in some paint chips...(rational or not?)

Figuring the necessary allowance for the frame coverage, I "eyeballed" the paint chips into place:

Because my paper was embossed and had a shiny finish, regular scrapbooking adhesive wouldn't work to adhere the paint chips. I resorted to plain ol' Elmer's glue.  It worked like a charm.

I placed the glass over the paint chips to hold them down until the glue dried and then cleaned the glass and put it all together in the frame:

Here it is, hanging on my kitchen wall just above my apron holder (you can find that tutorial here). 

14x18 frame at Hobby Lobby:  $8.00
Heritage white spray paint from my stash: $0.00
Paint chips form hardware store:  $0.00
Actually completing a project from one of my Pinterest boards:  PRICELESS!

-TracyP


linked to:


     

Vintage Artillery Case - A More Peaceful Use

I found this artillery case at a garage sale and was able to pick it up at a reasonable price.  I loved the wooden structure, old rope handles and stamped military labeling.

My handy hubby installed the webbing, so that the lid would stay open.

I had purchased a few too many annuals (Hey! They were on a killer SALE!) and this box needed a more peaceful purpose. I love the incongruity!

More work to do on our backyard "sanctuary", but off to a good start!

-TracyP

Cabinet Transformation

So many projects, so little time....and life "happens".  After 12 years in our house, I've finally updated the kitchen cabinets! Being a DIY-er, I just couldn't get comfortable with the idea of spending thousands of dollars on a new kitchen. We've painted the kitchen (twice) and installed bamboo flooring, but the cabinets just never got to the top of the list. This year, I used part of our spring break to "git 'er done". Cue Rustoleum's Cabinet Transformation kit!

The process, while time consuming (5 days - 2 with my wonderful daughter helping full-time), really wasn't that difficult.  If you can apply a smooth coat of paint, you can do this!

Here are the "before" photos:

AND AFTER!
I used two small Rustoleum Cabinet Transformation kits ~$50 each and installed all new cabinet/drawer hardware.

I still need to finish the the countertop bullnose, install the baseboard and paint the doors/trim, but I am loving how the cabinets turned out!
It's so much lighter and brighter.  Sigh....happy girl!


-TracyP

Inspirational Artwork

As we've worked to update our kitchen, I wanted to add a red tone for accent color.  While shopping at Hobby Lobby, I found some pieces in a color I loved.  One of the pieces is the picture frame, below:

The artwork was super simple to create in Microsoft Word, print on nice paper and slip into the frame.

What do you think?

-TracyP

Kitchen Update - wooden valance

We've slowly, as in glacial pace, been updating our kitchen.  A few years ago (YES, YEARS!) we put in new countertops and bamboo flooring.  I've just finished painting the walls, ceiling and back door.  For wall color I chose Behr Ultra "water sprout"; the ceiling, trim and back door are Behr Ultra "summer jasmine".

For the past 6 months, I've been watching my favorite blogs and Pinterest for window valance ideas.  I knew I wanted a wooden valance (white) that could double as a shelf - and had sent my husband several pictures for ideas.

Here is what we came up with:
Hubby did a beautiful job! I've been collecting vintage kitchen utensils and now have a spot to display some of them.  We got curtain panels from Bed, Bath and Beyond (love their 20% off coupons!); 36" for the back door and another 24" set for the kitchen window.  However, I cut the 24" window panels down to 12" and installed them with a tension rod inside the valance. I love the progress.  My hubby/handyman is working on another shelf for over the pocket door that leads to our laundry room.  When I have some time off from work, I'm going to refinish the cupboards with Rustoleum's cabinet transformation kit.

Have a great Friday!
-TracyP

Christmas Gift Toppers!

I had the luxury of a girls' weekend away for crafting and scrapbooking.  It was WOND-R-FUL!  We had three days of girl chat, good food, good drink and tons of time for letting the creativity flow.  In addition to 36 pages for my kids' scrapbooks, I worked on gift toppers for Christmas.  Here they are:

There are 23 in total, ranging in size from 2 inches to 4-1/2 inches.  They are super easy to make! I've included instructions at the bottom of this post. All of the backgrounds are a cream color...not this yellow...

This is more accurate for background color:

Here's how to make them-


Supplies:
Two coordinating pieces of scrapbook paper
Paper cutter
Scor-pal, bone folder, or some other method of scoring the paper
Adhesive dots
Embellishment/sticker

Tip: Complete steps 1 and 2 for multiple medallions ahead of time and then complete steps 3 and 4 while listening to the kids read, or watching t.v.

1. The larger medallions are 4-1/2 inches in diameter.  For this size, cut strips of 12x12 patterned paper into 2-1/2 inch strips. Two strips are connected and-to-end for the larger size. You need a scalloped circle for the center of the medallion (3" in diameter). You also need a second scalloped circle to cover the back (1-1/2" in diameter).  I used a friend's Cricut to cut multiples - that was slick!
2. After cutting your strips, use a border punch along one long edge. This step is not required, but adds some additional dimension to the edge.  I used a scalloped punch to get the rounded edge.
3. (This step is the most time-consuming part.)  Score the strip in between the scallops. I used a scor-pal www.scor-pal.com, but Martha Stewart also makes a similar tool.  
4. Once you have both strips scored, fan fold them along the score lines.
5. Take the two strips, right side up and connect them together at one end and then together at the other end, creating a circle.
6. From the back side, pull the center of the circle in and adhere it with an adhesive dot or two and the cover the center with the smaller scalloped circle.
7. Turn it over, front side up, and use adhesive dots to adhere the larger scalloped circle to the center of the medallion.
8. Add a message to the scalloped circle, or embellish it with an epoxy sticker or seasonal "doo-dad" (as a serious crafter, I'm sure you are familiar with this technical term).

For a smaller medallion, use 2-1/2" strips of paper. You only need one strip, and will need to make your scalloped circles smaller (2-1/2" and 1-1/2").

I think these will be cute on Christmas packages around the tree, on napkin rings at the table, or tied around a wine bottle and given to my favorite holiday hostess. A friend suggested adding a ribbon and hanging them on the tree.

My Christmas colors this year will be red, white and burlap.  I'm thinking of wrapping my packages in kraft paper with red ribbons and then adding these toppers.  What do you think?

Go create something!

-TracyP

A Little of This and a Little of That

I had the itch to work on a project, but not a ton of time (story of my life!), so I gathered up a few things I had in the garage:

• an MDF board that my DH had routered for me
• some leftover white paint and a little glaze and top coat from my Rustoleum Cabinet Transformations kit (more on that in another post!)
• AND some old door knobs I picked up at Second Use.

I painted the board with two coats of white paint and let it dry thoroughly.  Using an orbital sander, I distressed the board and then used the glaze to "age" it.  Once I had it looking the way I wanted, I let that dry and then put on two layers of top coat.  My hubby drilled the holes and attached the knobs for me. Here's what I ended up with:

Well, what do you think?

It's hanging in my kitchen.  I'm on the hunt for some vintage aprons - or great fabric to make my own.

I hope you're having a great day!

Go create something!
-TracyP