celebrate!

hello monday - hello new additions

                                                                 

hello four.

this little project was super fun and easy.

i took a canvas, my projector and found a four that i liked,

penciled it out and painted it.

voila!

hello new zippered pouch from the pleated poppy.

this is the 2nd zippered pouch i've bought from lindsey and i just adore it!

the quality is top notch and the style...speaks for itself.

hello summer project.

this beast i've lovingly named goliath.

he was given to us by some friends who were moving

and will be great storage for us.

i can't wait to get started on his makeover!

i'm saying hello monday with lisa leonard.

what are you saying hello to this week?

Lovely Little Lamp

I have two lamps that I bought from Target about 6 or 7 years ago. They were both white with white lampshades. Ho hum...So I painted both of them turquoise and sanded them here and there.


I really liked the color of the lamps, but still wanted to do something with those shades.

So, I decided to cover one of the shades with my "blossoms" and see how it looked. I used a white bedsheet that had recently ripped and hot glued the "blossoms" on.

After attaching the first few, I was in love!







It took many hours, but one is done.
My lovely little lamp.
Now to muster up the energy to do the other....




Linking to
The Shabby Nest ~ Frugal Friday

Randomish

This is a custom order I just finished for a frog lovin' FL lady's birthday. It's one of my favorites. Each piece was hand cut with scissors. I hope she likes it as much as I do.

We're relocating next month (same city, new house) so I'm between packing, finishing orders, homeschooling, planting a church, and staying sane.

And for those who always think my house is spotless and like to call me Martha Stewart, this one's for you:

Fitness Friday Girl is having a month long series to get you ready for swimsuit season. You can also enter to win one of my scripture frames during her giveaway.

Hop on over and check it out.

Just In Time For Feasting

You may remember awhile back, we scored this huge dining table FOR FREE on Craigslist. Well, I had all intentions of working on this project right away, but my mom's health quickly declined and she passed away in August. Kinda lost my motivation, ya know?

However, this weekend, I decided that I was tired of seeing it covered with hubby's hunting stuff in the garage. It needed to be rescued. again. So, I got to work. I guess you could say, the Dove got her groove back.

After sanding the whole thing down, I applied two coats of primer. After that dried, I applied one coat of Sherwin Williams Pro something or other. Then, I got my handy dandy sander out again and distressed it here and there. I imagine, with a house full of men and another move in our future, it'll keep getting "naturally" distressed over time.

I love how huge this table is. Perfect for our big family get togethers.

What projects do you need to get working on?

Randomness and A Winner

It was crazy 'round here this weekend. We spent most of our time indoors. The severe weather alert that flashed across the screen warned us of the heat index. They told us to stay inside because it felt like 108 degrees outdoors. You don't have to tell me twice. I'm very fragile and wilt easily. We did manage to get out to a pool party, but the water was like bath water - not very refreshing. I grew up at a beach in Florida and never do I remember being warned to stay indoors because of the heat. This is NC, what's the deal?

Anyway, enough about that. I really enjoyed all the sweet birthday wishes and comments that everyone left over the weekend. I love you all dearly. Unfortunately, there can only be one winner of the birthday loot. And the winner is...

April

*Congratulations*

Oh, and here's a random little decorating tip for you...see the chubby dove in the photo above? He was totally different and looked so real when I received him for Christmas last year. He actually gave me the creeps. I felt like he was staring at me no matter where in the house I put him. But he was special because someone I love gave him to me. And I liked his plumpness (of course). I decided to paint him with a few coats of acrylic paint and I love how he turned out. So, my tip is when you're shopping for accessories, don't pass over something because you don't like the color. The color can be changed very easily.

Is there something in your house that you'd love more if it were painted a different color? (piles of dirty laundry don't count)

Can't Wait...

Know what this is?

I'll give you a hint.

It's part of one of my favorite places to be...

My bed.

Well, our bed.

I also like to share it with my favorite guy.

After all, he built it for me years ago as a gift for our five year wedding anniversary.

...and after a loooong day today,

I can't wait to hop into it tonight!
Ahh...

Here I Go Again...

I don't know what it is about doors, but I just have a thing for them.

Last week, on the front porch of an adorable old house in my area,
I saw this antique screen door leaning against the wall.
Every time I drove by, I found myself sighing.
I really liked it and wanted it to be mine in a bad way.
I was tempted to stop and ask the owners of the house
it they would be interested in selling it.

Until Saturday,
when I drove by and saw they were having a yard sale.
And what do you think was leaning against the tree out front?
My screen door!!

Between the two of us, we had 10 bucks.
So, I turned around.
It was worth a shot.

I walked up and asked the very nice man who lived in the house,
how much he was asking for the door frame.

His response?

"Two dollars."

I said, "Two dollars?! Um, I'll take it!"
I couldn't get my hands on it fast enough.

So, here it is hanging over the couch in our living room.


I'm not sure what I'll put inside it yet, if I do anything.
But I'm sure glad it found a good home.

With me.

*linking up with The Shabby Chic Cottage*

Free Desk = Fun Desk

I know it's summer
and the last thing anyone wants to think about right now
is school, but I plan to home school next year.

I've been trying to figure out where in our house that
I'm going to do this said
home schooling...

Enter one
*FREE*
antique desk
found on craigslist by my sweet hubs.

I think lots of schoolwork was done on this baby.

So, I broke out my paint and got to work.

Notice, I didn't say sander.
That's 'cause I was so excited that I skipped that part.

I got my white paint out and applied two layers.
Then, one of my favorite colors
(which may or may not inspire daydreams of the beach).
Two coats of that.
THEN,
I broke out the palm sander and sanded away.

*funny side note*
I did the sanding in our driveway
while our son was riding his bike.
I went into the garage to unplug my sander and
all of a sudden I heard a crash.
He accidentally rode into the desk and knocked over.

I always say,
"It's a good thing I like distressed furniture
because I have two boys"

I love the end result.
Now, if only teaching was this easy.

Linked up with The Shabby Chic Cottage- Transformation Thursday

Sit Awhile...

Where's your favorite spot?

Pass The Chips, Please...

Who says you have to throw that chipped plate away?
This is what I did with one of our dinner plates that had TWO chips in it.

See?


I don't have photos of the steps, but they're super easy.

1) I got a piece of my favorite scrapbook paper.
(I'm sure you can use wallpaper or wrapping paper, too)

2) I grabbed my trusty Mod Podge

3) I measured the inside of my plate and cut the paper to fit.
(I happen to have another plate that is the size of the circle that I needed.
I used that as a template)

4) I painted a chipboard letter R for our last name.

5) I attached the paper and the letter to the plate using the Mod Podge.

Because of where I wanted to display the plate,
I knew the chips would be easily hidden by my other accessories.

There ya have it!

*I don't why the font size varies so much in this post.
Don't mind that and just look at my cute plate*


I'm linking up to The Shabby Nest's Frugal Friday

Favorite Spring Things

Today, I've decided to show off some of my favorite springy stuff.
Above, I have this little tin egg with a squirrel on it.
(love me some squirrels!)
My mom gave me this egg years ago, so I'm not sure
where it originally came from.
Ain't it adorable?

Speaking of my mom, below is a picture of
her as a child all dressed up on Easter Sunday.
Cuteness, doncha think?
Wonder what she had in that little purse...


This egg wreath, I purchased at Cracker Barrel a couple of years back.
I love the texture of it.
And would you check out the burlap wrapped eggs?!

Someone out there is thinking
PROJECT!

I have it hanging on the huge mirror in our hall.



The little eggs in my candle holders are

currently for sale at Michaels.
Please, go get some 'cause they're the sweetest!
They are made out of this hard foam material that you can actually cut into.



I added some fluff on top of the candle holders before putting the eggs on.
Now, they look like they're in a little nest.
I'm thinking about speckling them and leaving 'em up all year.
(i also love me some eggs!)

And last but not least, my bunny!
It may have been part of an old calendar (not sure).
My friend, Tami and I went junkin' one day and I saw it on the counter at an antique store.
The lady working there just gave it to me.
for free.
I brought him home, painted and distressed a frame and now he lives here with us.

Do you decorate for spring?

Furniture + Fusion = Fabulous

Yawn.

Blah beige chair.
You're kinda boring and stained.
And so is your twin.
I want new chairs, but that's not in the budget.
Guess you'll have to do, but you're so dull.

And you, little wicker table.
You're sun bleached and sad.

What am I gonna do with you?

Hmm, Krylon Fusion.
Sounds powerful.

Imagine the possibilities...

I spray both chairs and the table.

And for less than $30, I get a whole new set for our front porch.

Now, that's better.
Dontcha think?

Linking up to:
somewhat simple: strut your stuff
the shabby chic cottage: transformation thursday
a few of my favorite things: favorite things friday
the shabby nest: frugal friday
a soft place to land: DIY day

Everyday Wreath

Yesterday, I made this "everyday" wreath.

I wanted something very simple without lots of fluff this time.

Something that I could hang on the front door
other than my chocolate wreath and Christmas wreath.
Something that didn't shout holiday or theme.
(well, there is a theme around here and it's bird related.
I am The Chubby Dove for goodness sake).

Enter:

This pitiful wreath that's been lurking in the garage.
It had seen its fair share of sunrises on our front door in FL .
The leaves had turned an awful neon green.
Yeah, no one needs neon plastic leaves on their front door.
No one.
I always planned to put it out of its misery and yesterday was its lucky day!
I pulled all those nasty, little neon leaves off.

I didn't remove the yellow wrap that was around the foam.
(a combo of being too lazy and too excited, I guess)

In the midst of all the gluing of the new leaves,
I forgot to take pictures.
But, you'll see, it was pretty simple.

The "new leaves" were leftovers from my chocolate wreath project.
I only used the rosebuds to make that wreath, so I had varying sizes of leaves left.
(I never throw anything away that could later be used to make something else.)

Ok, so I glued the leaves down in the same direction.
The big ones on the bottom,
followed by the medium sized ones and finally the small
ones 'round back to cover up the foam.

Then, I added this....
(we're a family of four)

The nest already had a metal clip in the middle of it that I poked through the foam

and then hot glued down for extra support.
I reused the same cream colored chiffon ribbon.
It was still in great shape.
No neon.

And there you have it.

The boys are looking forward to checking the eggs
when they look through the peephole, too.
every.day.

Monday Makeover

I got this "shutter shelf" for Christmas.
Ever since then, it's been sitting in our laundry room.
Very lonely, no purpose.
I just wasn't sure what to do with it.
I wasn't crazy about the color and certainly not the wooden pieces that were stuck to the top.
See them there?

Well, this weekend, I had a "Eureka!" moment and decided to give it a makeover.

First, I grabbed a screwdriver and hammer and gave those pieces a few good whacks.
(it was pretty fun)
Then I sanded down the spots where the pieces had been attached.
There were some grooves left, but they just added to the distress of the shelf.

Next, I mixed up some paint and slapped it on.
I wiped off the excess with a paper towel and let some of the green show through.
Followed it up with a little bit of white here and there
and sanded the whole thing down, distressing it all over.

The cherry on top is the little starfish!

I decided that this little guy is now going to have a special purpose in my studio.

I'm always looking for my phone and camera when I'm working in there.

(and if you've ever seen my studio, you know it sometimes look like a bomb's gone off )
This will also keep them safely out of the way of paint, water, paper dust, etc.

So, there ya have it.
Is there something you have around your house that could use a makeover?