One Mantle Makeover

It's time for

another mantle makeover!I used many of the same elements I used on my Easter mantle---
faux flowers, electric candles, moss and shutters.
I added a mirror to reflect the light of the chandelier
and resemble a window between the shutters.
I like the feel of looking at
a window of spring from the inside.

I'm linking to Nester's mantle party.

I Love DT

Aahhh! It's the day after hosting the ladies evening out for our church. Everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. They all went home with favor boxes from the dollar store containing mints and snickers with a note inside that said, life is "mint" to be happy. And a quote that said (among other things), "How we see life's glass---half-full or half-empty---is primarily a choice." The evening was full of food, friends and fun!While I was at the dollar store buying favor boxes and mints (that just happened to color coordinate with the huge flowers), I took some photos with my phone of some fun items. I resisted the holiday decorations but still found plenty of great items for a dollar.
The toy isle had these oversized plastic combs and scissors. Can't you just envision them with a coat of metallic spray paint? The comb would be great in a bathroom and the scissors would look darling hanging on the wall of a laundry or sewing room.
How cute are these wall decals?!? What a great way to decorate a room without making a commitment of time or money. And when you get tired of them they come off without damaging the wall. Those frames in the middle would be great in a school locker or on the fridge.
These butterfly shapes are actually chalkboards! What little girl wouldn't love those? And now you can even buy fancy outlet and switch covers.
Do you need wall art? How about a pretty poster?These metal farm animal plaques look vintage. How cute would they be in a country kitchen or in a little boy's farm themed room.
Oh, and how I love white plates! These have a beautiful hobnail type border. Add a goblet (we use these at our house every day for supper), a placemat, and a dish towel as an oversized napkin and you have a beautiful place setting!
I managed to bring home a lovely sunflower poster. Won't it be pretty leaning against the wall surrounded by fall leaves and pumpkins? And I purchased some of those chalkboard decals. I placed them in my bathroom. They're great for writing a little reminder.
What a great way to spend a dollar!

Flower Power

Did you expect to see a fully finished bathroom project? Yeah, so did I. Isn't it funny how life can get in the way of your plans? Well, one day I hope to finish the downstairs bathroom. I know it won't happen for a while. But that's okay. In the meantime, I still have things to share.
This week I'm in charge of a pot luck salad and dessert supper for the women of my church. I want the evening to be lighthearted and fun. With that goal in mind, I chose to make colorful, over-sized, whimsical centerpieces.
It seems that tissue paper flowers are all the rage now so I used that idea as my inspiration.
First I folded kraft paper and rounded the ends to make a flower template.Then I folded the tissue paper the same way, in half, then in half, then edge to edge. I placed my template on top and cut out several layers of tissue.Dowels were glued into simple wood bases and both were painted bright green.I cut leaf shapes out of the tissue paper and applied them with hot glue.Then I stacked several layers of tissue flowers, cut a hole in the center, threaded them onto the dowel and hot glued them into place. I added a wooden circle covered with tissue paper as the center of the flower. I crunched up the tissue a bit to "poof" up the flower and give it dimension. One down, nine more to finish!

Fashionably Late

Rhoda from Southern Hospitality has been hosting a fabulous Top Ten Projects of 2008 party and I'm arriving late....but better late than never, I always say!

It's been both fun and rewarding to look back through the past year and remind myself that I was actually able to complete a few projects.

Last spring I took an old dresser, that someone had left at the curb for trash, and turned it into a treasure for our backyard patio.
I love the transformation of an old desk from the thrift store into a beauty of an entry table.
There was the "ugly art" that I changed into a unique and useful chalkboard.
I'm surprised at how popular my 5 minute monogram project became!It's exciting to see how others have personalized it to their taste.
I always enjoy a quick and easy project like taking a plain wooden tray and making it special.
I did a paint makeover on one of the very first door projects my husband and I ever made. I'm always amazed at how much paint can transform just about any object.
Speaking of door projects, my husband and I enjoyed taking several doors, that we had stored in our garage, and making them into useful and beautiful pieces of furniture.
I'm so glad that I started to blog in 2008! It's been just the motivation I needed to accomplish a few projects. I'm looking forward to a new year full of creativity!

Party On

Let's keep this party going one more day.

PAINT PARTY!!!

It's Time to Celebrate the
Wonders of Spray Paint!

I've showed you my
"paint outside the black box" projects.
Now it's time to show off yours.

It will be fun to see all the
different colors you've chosen,
including our favorites, white and black.
(Yes, it's fine to show off something black)
I'm as excited as a kindergarten girl
opening a new box of crayons!

Let's start clicking and commenting!