Thursday, August 25, 2022

BFF Open House

 


Halloween may be the next big crafting holiday but let me really scare you. Christmas is just FOUR MONTHS from today! EEEEEEK! 

I didn't get up to much this past week. We had my mom down to visit for a few days and then catching up on some errands. BUT, I did hit Dollar Tree for some decorations for my Halloween tree and I want to put it up NOW. They have some great things. Michaels and JoAnn also have some cool stuff and a lot of it already discounted. Shop early and often is my motto! 

I love hosting this party, especially when I haven't had time to work on anything. I love seeing all the things you work on and share and while I may not be able to comment on every link, I appreciate each and every one. Let's take a look at a few from last week's party! 



Check out this Not Yet Fall Pumpkin from The Apple Street Cottage. Isn't it GORGEOUS?! This can stay up all the way through Thanksgiving. And of course I did pick up a couple of extra pumpkins from Dollar Tree to play with! 


Likewise, check out this great DIY Witch Hat tutorial from Me and My Inklings! Fun on its own but also what a great topper for a pumpkin or a tree!


Even though I'm not a camper, I can't resist a good pun and if you're getting in one last campout of the season, Artsy Fartsy Mama has you covered to go in style with this Camping Is In Tents tee (free file at link)! 


Finally, I must confess I have an aversion to Pineapple Upside Down Cake...leftover childhood trauma from my least favorite aunt. It was the only dessert she made and if I didn't eat it, I heard about it. So when I became an adult "Not no way, not no how". But this Chocolate Raspberry Upside Down Cake from K'Mich Wedding Soiree Blog I would DEFINITELY try! 

Thanks to everyone who linked up and let's see what you've been up to this week! 










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Thursday, August 18, 2022

BFF Open House

 

Another week in the books. Another Friday Eve. I hope everyone's had a good week. Hopefully we're approaching the tail end of monsoon season. We've been OK where we are but parts of the Valley have been hard hit with flooding. One thing you learn early if you live in the desert is you heed the flash flood warnings. If you're ever here and even if you come from places where it rains heavily (I moved from Seattle) these waters do not play with you! Dust storms either. 

Finished up our entryway and happy that I was able to do it without justifying buying new things!  Amazing what a little paint and a slipcover can do. You can see it here:  From Antique Brass to Hammered PewterI also finished painting some other pieces and am excited to be able to now start on some Halloween things! 

Let's take a look at some of the great ideas shared at last week's party and can't wait to see what everyone shares this week. 

Check out this amazing project from My Thrift Store Addiction using a Dollar Store Pillow! So pretty and perfect to stay up the entire Fall season. 

If you've ever wanted to try jewelry making, this project, complete with an excellent tutorial, from My French Twist has got you covered.


This DIY Hunny Pot from Drugstore Divas is just the perfect project for Winnie the Pooh lovers. 


Finally, love Churros but maybe you don't eat eggs? Check out these Eggless Churros (with a nice side of chocolate dipping sauce) from Treat and Trick

Thanks to everyone who linked up and can't wait to see what everyone's been up to this week! 







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Monday, August 15, 2022

Home Decor: From Brass to Hammered Pewter


I previously shared the Lamp and Mirror Makeover I did for our entryway but hadn't yet done the table. I finished it and am so happy with how it turned out! With just a little paint, it changed the whole feel of the table and entry. 

Supplies:
  • Rustoleum Hammered Pewter Spray Paint


We bought this table years ago. It's heavier than it looks, has stayed in great condition and there was no reason to get rid of it, except the color didn't go with our new home. I was also not looking to spend any more money when I knew I could re-purpose it! Rustoleum All Surface Paint to the rescue! 



The paint comes in several different colors and is paint and primer all in one. It sprays evenly and coats well. You definitely still want to use it outside or someplace with good ventilation so Mr. Chocolate brought it out to the backyard and I went to work spraying! Not a lot of before and after to show so at the top of the post is the before, here's the after: 



I had to take advantage of a break in the monsoon weather so my picture-taking was utility vs perfection based. 

Our entryway is now complete with a beautiful hammered pewter table. Honestly, I spent more on the orchid stems and branches (Michaels) and quartz vase fillers (also Michaels)!



To finish the entryway, I recovered an ottoman with a crushed velvet cover I bought on Amazon and the mirror we bought a Pottery Barn years ago which is also still going strong. 


Since we're a shoes-off house, it will make it easier for guests to have a place to sit to remove / put on their shoes. 

What's hilarious is, Mr. Chocolate has always been reluctant when I say I want to paint something. Guess who brought our coffee table outside for a makeover? I used the same Rustoleum paint but this time in brushed nickel. 









 

Thursday, August 11, 2022

BFF Open House

 

Have you seen my week? Because I'm not sure where it went. I know it's not coming back, however! Hope yours has been good. I've been busy painting more furniture but did have a chance to do my first love...my gateway drug to all other crafting and made a birthday card for a dear friend which you can see here Papercrafting: Magical Birthday Card.

Inspiring ideas as always at last week's party so let's take a look at few! 


Aren't these bracelets beautiful? Even better...the beads are made from recycled paper and can be done in any color combination to match any outfit which is exactly what Within a World of My Own did!


Speaking of repurposing, check out this gorgeous Room Makeover from Thrifting Wonderland proving you don't have to break the bank to have a stunning look! 

For gift giving season or just because, check out this fabulous idea from Artsy Fartsy Mama. What a special way to share a treasured recipe that's both special and functional. 


Finally, these Lido Cupcakes from Cindy's Online Recipe Box look delicious inside (Cream Cheese and Chocolate Chips!) and out (Chocolate Ganache Frosting). YUM! 

Thanks to everyone who linked up and can't wait to see what you've all been up to this week!










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Monday, August 8, 2022

Papercrafting: Birthday Magic

 


I've been busy with updating and making home decor. I was thankful that a friend had a birthday so I had a reason to make a card, my first love!

Supplies: 
  • Recollections Paper Stack, Spring Inks (Michaels)
  • Recollections White Cardstock 110 lb (Michaels)
  • Black and White Polka Dot Paper
  • Capitol Chic Designs Die Cuts (Michaels)
  • Crafter's Square Embellishments (Dollar Tree)
  • Foam Tape
  • Tape Gun


I pulled out some supplies from my stash. The Capitol Chic Designs die cuts,a while I picked up at Michaels awhile ago when they first came out. It's great having more diversity in crafting supplies and I love their work! I chose a couple of images to use as the focal for the card. I also love that Dollar Tree has increased and expanded their craft supplies and find a lot of embellishments there. 

I chose a foiled-marble paper from the stack that coordinated with the die cuts, and them made a card from white cardstock (5x7) and cut a panel (4.75x6.75) from the polka dot paper. 



I've had this Martha Stewart scoreboard forever and use it for all of my cards. I scored the 10x7 cardstock panel down the middle to create the 5x7 card, then applied the marbled panel and die cuts using foam tape to mount.


I skipped the cupcake stickers and just went with the rhinestones in coordinated colors to embellish. 


Et Voila!





Thursday, August 4, 2022

BFF Open House

 


Happy August, everyone. How it's already August, I don't know but here we are which means maker season is about to go into overdrive. Seeing more Halloween and even a little Christmas popping up in the stores and some of it is already on sale! Riddle me that. 

This week I shared two more home decor projects. A Lamp and Mirror Makeover and some more DIY Wall Art in Shades of Blue

Some wonderful projects as usual were shared at last week's party so let's take a look at a few!


LOVE this transformation of a stand ashtray from The Apple Street Cottage .



Whether you have a box of maps you've collected or just grab some new ones. Creatively Beth has you covered with Three Ways to Use Recycled Maps.  


If you want to get a headstart on Christmas cards, this one from Paper Seedlings is a stunner! 


Maybe you've been gardening or picked up some Zucchini at a Farmer's Market. Here's a great way to use it and it doesn't hurt that it means getting more veggies in. Check out this Double Chocolate Zucchini Cake from The House on Silverado










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Wednesday, August 3, 2022

Home Decor: Shades of Blue DIY Wall Art

 


See? Not everything I'm working on lately is black! With a lot of wall space to cover and not trying to break the bank buying art for it, I continue on my DIY Wall Art journey. Our master bathroom has blue cabinets which are a nice contrast to the gray tile on the floor and in the shower. I decided to do a new painting to tie the two together. 

Supplies: 
  • 36x48 Canvas (Michaels)
  • Acrylic paints in shades of White, Silver, Blue
  • Paint Scraper and Brushes 


My "easel" is a folding card table that works perfectly for these larger canvases. There was no master plan here. I started by painting a section of white, then blending in two different shades of silver. FOr the "water" effect, I did dots of blues and white and then dragged through the paint with a paint scraper. 


For the center of the painting I did a deep blue that coordinated with the color of our cabinets, then did the reverse order of the silvers to white using a wide paintbrush. 


Coincidentally, I'd done a couple of blue-themed paintings before we bought this house that fit perfectly into this room. 


The toilet is situated in its own area so this is in that "room". I'd also previously done this Acrylic Paint Pour canvas which also works in this room! 


I must have been psychic because both of the pieces I did before we even found this house remind me of the fluidity of water so they're perfect for this bathroom. 


No Galleries will be calling to offer me a show, but I'm happy with my DIY Artwork and my biggest fan, Mr. Chocolate, is too!