Craigslist Freebie

So - completely shocking - but a few months ago some unknowing sucker posted this beauutee for FREE on Craigslist.  Ummm...crazy??  I think so.  So we jumped all over that like a fat kid on a Smartie - and gotta say I was genuinely surprised that we were the first to contact them given it had been posted for a few days already. LUCKEEE!

No, I do not, nor do I want to, know - the source of the giant stain across the seat....

So I know very little about reupholstering, but I do know that it's possible to make it look better than that. I started by sanding it down with an orbital sander and some hand sanding, primed it and then painted two coats with a soft green that I was hoping will be pulled out with distressing and match my fabric. I then spray painted it a few coats with white spray paint.

I then started pulling it apart and stapling on the new fabric...

Unfortunately, I wasn't quite feeling it - the white and the fabric were not going at all. The contrast was too stark and I wasn't too excited about repainting with the new fabric on.  So - this is where I left the room, and decided I was going to post it on Craigslist for free. Umm....lesson learned.  Perhaps next time I'll just stick with the box of Smarties...


A week later I decided to regroup and try to attack it again. - with cream.  Looking SOOO much better.

The plan is to start distressing with some light sanding and a stain - but to be very honest....TOTALLY gun shy.  is there a trick?  there's gotta be a trick....and this is where you tell me the trick..... :)

"Thankful" Tutorial...

So here's an easy peasy idea that literally can be started and completed before the kids get up from rest time! LOVIN' instant gratification projects!  I also had everything on hand so it cost me nothing, which I'm also a big fan of! :)  


I grabbed some scraps of 3/4" MDF that we had in the workshop (oh how I wish I could say the word "garage" there.....'cause that would mean that the dust would be less "in" my house - and more "beside" my house every time we use the miter saw.... :(... ) and cut it into random sizes and widths between 1 1/2 - 3 inches.

Then I opened up Word on my computer and typed in my letters, changing up the size and font for each one and printing them out on different colors of scrapbooking paper.

Cut out my letters to fit within each piece of MDF and inked the edges of the paper.
Used some acrylic craft paint for the sides and front edge of each block of MDF - using different colors to change it up a bit, and inked the edges of the blocks with my ink pad as well.

Mod-podged the paper to the front of each block and painted a layer over top the whole thing, making sure to cover the edges so they don't peel off.

Sadly - this endorsement is not sponsored by Mod-Podge

and That's the whole deal!! I added some ribbon around two of the letters for a little interest. Cute and easy!    

I actually did up a few sets at the same time, used some raffia to tie them up and shared some lovin' with a few friends! :)

But give it a try and let me know how they turn out! :) Have a great day!


Ralna

Baking in Style...

So - my good friend had a little birthday this week and is truly an amazing cook.  Umm...one of those people who read cookbooks like novels...for fun??  Yeah - I can barely find a plot line on the side of a Kraft Dinner box.  :) But - you gotta have friends that cook right??  So - I hit my little fabric box and came up with a cute little apron.  I didn't have a pattern so I just kinda gave 'er - and it was actually so much fun to not have the little diagrams and directions to tell me that I probably don't do things like I'm suppose to!!  But you gotta do what you gotta do hey? 

I truly wanted to do ruffles all the way up the skirt but restrained myself. :)  Next time....

All laid out I'm kind of wishing I'd made it as a dress. - however,...I'm thinking it would be taking "backless" to a whole new awkward level.  Ummm....yeah.

And just so y'all know - it's super hard to take a flattering picture of yourself wearing an apron! - too bad I'm not patient enough to wait until Aaron comes home....

Kinda makes me wanna cook.  But don't worry, I took it off and the feeling quickly left....

Have a great night... :)

Ralna

it's falling time

So - my nod to Fall is gradually growing into more of a slow head spasm - not so fast that Aaron will notice the new decorations on our tight 'new homeowner' budget however....  it's all about mastering subtlety right? ;) Actually - for the most part I'm just on the hunt for free things I have around the house/yard/neighbourhood to gradually nurse everyone slowly out of summer and prepare them for the outright frontal attack I have planned for Christmas.  Ahhh - Christmas! :)  I also am not a big fan of clutter or additional random objects that my kids can relocate throughout the house so I'm keeping things simple. 


I have long been loving the white ceramic birds that are everywhere - so, my favorite little craft superstore helped me out for $5.99...

That's a pine cone, acorn and small piece of driftwood on the sand.  How very zen hey? 

and here's a few little fall moments I've created in our main living space.

Now just gotta pick up my pumpkin spice candle and find a friend who'll perhaps drop off a fresh apple pie?  Just sayin'....

outdoor bench

Thanks again to my good friend Ana White at Knock-Off Wood (k - i MAY be one of those 'friends' that follows you around the schoolyard and you don't REALLY know exist - but yeah - )....here's our latest building project!  We used up the left over cedar sitting in the scrap pile from our new fence. A pretty new outdoor bench seat.  Mmmm... free! :)

Love having the extra seating on our deck....now just gotta finish the pillows...


Have a great night!.....


Ralna

DIY Art

I was strolling through blogville yesterday morning and had one of those moments - those "I gotta make that right this instant - oh shoot, I have two kids and don't get to do what I want to" moments.  I saw it over at Red Heads Craft More Fun and instantly had it's final display place in mind - just 'happened' to have one uninspired blank canvas sitting in my closet (and THIS is the reason I have to buy things EVEN when I have no project in mind Aaron...) and had only a few short hours to wait until rest time when I would have two hours of 'uninterrupted' (oh how I joke) solitude. :)


Unfortunately I don't have a Cricket though - I know, let's all have a moment for the girl! :) and I am WAY too impatient to cut out all those letters by hand - so I took a little artistic freedom and changed up the lettering a little...but think it turned out super cute!  (Thanks Courtney!)  

Ralna

fall wreath

I LOVE Fall - but that isn't to say I'm prepared to see summer leave.  However, the weather this past week has left me no choice to embrace the truth - it is quickly approaching and I shall have to once again pack in my Daisy Duke shorts for capris - K, truthfully it was probably time for me to pack in the Dukes about three kids ago (yes - I only have two kids)...


Nonetheless... waking up to the crisp Fall air, dreaming of warm hearty stews, apple crisps, cozy sweaters, and strolling the aisle's of Micheals got my little heart pretty psyched to start dreaming in - as my friend so eloquently put it -  'dead leaves, hay and twigs.'  kind of takes the "romance" out of the season hey? ....cynics...


So - here is my first nod to Autumn.

Anyone else making the jump?




Ralna