Category Archives: Creativity

Jun17

Diary of a Paint Job – Day 2

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Diary of a Paint Job – Day 2

Well, I decided to repaint. I just didn’t like the color I ended up with at the end of Day 1 and didn’t want to settle. Back to Home Depot and this time, I wasn’t going for the color matching route and pick out a color from the sample deck.

Living room Day 2 IMG_8695

This time, I chose Skyline Steel and although it’s still more blue than grey I’m happy. Although the color looks the same, it’s a lighter shade.

Living room day 1 IMG_8693

Next, the fine crack that runs across the entire ceiling had to go. Last time I painted, I tried scraping and patching but it just came back.

Ceiling crack IMG_8700

I called my contractor neighbor for reinforcement and he told me to dig it out again
ceiling scraped IMG_8702

and he would patch it for me. Yes!!!!

Ceiling patched IMG_8708

I also disconnected the radiator, no easy task, and he patched the wall behind it that needed to be patched as well.

radiator wall patch IMG_8703

Next up is the trim and ceiling. I realize I should of painted the ceiling first but the original plan was to leave the ceiling alone, however, I just couldn’t live with the crack anymore. I hope to complete the trim and hopefully the radiator by the end of day 3.

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Between Naps on the Porch: Metamorposis Monday

Apr10

Fun Experimenting!

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Fun Experimenting!

I have spent the last couple of weeks experimenting with my very first line of art stamps. Wooo Hooo! I designed them to be used interchangeably and layered to create various design patterns and color ways. My inspiration, designer, John Robshaw. Many of his designs are block printed by hand and what I love most is the imperfection of it all. I too want to embrace and embody the beauty of perfectly, imperfect design.

With that said, I’m having fun exploring all the possibilities. Initially using only black, I used stamps from “Perfectly Paisley” and “Flower Power” with some free hand squiggles. Can you picture this border running along the side edge of a curtain or trailing along an arched door way in your choice of color? It could be subtle or bold, depending on your taste.

black paisley border

Then the VersaCraft ink pads I ordered arrived, and let’s just say I regressed to a kid in a candy store.

ink pads_8367

All that color encouraged me to step away from my usual blue and brown sensibility and venture out. I’ve been having so much fun experimenting with various color combinations.

The designs below, with the exception of the floral and paisley border, were created with the “Squared Away” and “Full Circle Moments” art stamp sheets.

For this one, I used Brick and Sand.

brick pine circle and square 2

Next, I used a Cerrulean, Ultramarine and an Autumn Leaf combination.

cerulean blue ultramarine autmn leaf circles 2

Here, the top border was created with “Flower Power” using Cherry Pink and Tangerine and I added Celadon to the patterns underneath.

cherry pink celadon autumn leaf 2

This is a tone on tone look using Sky Mist and Midnight.

midnight sky mist circles and squares 2

Then I threw in a little Maize into the mix to create a blue/yellow colorway.

midnight sky mist maize square 2

And here we have Pine, Autumn Leaf and Cherry Pink combo.

pine autumn leaf cherry pink 2

As I mentioned, I designed this collection with the intention of mixing, matching and layering to create an unlimited assortment of design possibilities. Changing the color or the combination of art stamps completely alters the look and the pattern of the design. I wanted to offer the opportunity to create without thoughts of perfection, limits or restrictions. It’s an opportunity to branch out, explore and be freeeeeeeee!

All colors and stamps are available in my Etsy store, Art Stamps and More. As I take baby steps through this creative entrepreneurial journey enterprise, I welcome your thoughts, ideas and suggestions.

Have you used art stamps to embellish and personalize your home decorating projects?

Apr2

A Desk Molded into Shape – Part 2

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A Desk Molded into Shape – Part 2

Here’s where I left off with this desk a few weeks back.

desk front IMG_8148

Anytime I’m unsure of how to proceed or I second guess myself, procrastination sets in, and there you have it, an unfinished piece waiting for closure far too long. Taking note of it’s unfinished state when passing by, I get so annoyed with my indecisiveness. Can you relate to this experience?

But the other day, I decided to embrace the uncertainty of it all and take a creative stand once again. I stained the molding I added to drawers. At first, I stained everything in varying shades of brown as you see in the second drawer. However, I liked the mix of the natural and stained wood tones and went with that.

MCM desk stained drawers IMG_8196

Mistakenly, second guessing my original creative decision, I sanded off the previously painted top and tried a dark painted/stain finish instead. It looked hideous!  I didn’t  take any pictures, but trust me, it wasn’t pretty. I repainted  the top white again, afterward, uttering a huge sigh of relief.

And after all that procrastination and second guessing, here it is:

MCM desk angle view IMG_8398

 
I used the original hardware.

MCM hardware IMG_8351

However, the finish was really bad, so I decided to spray paint them white.

 

As for the legs, I sanded off the original finish and couldn’t decide, dark or light.

MCM desk angle view IMG_8399

So I left them natural.

 

All it needs is a couple coats of wax and it will be ready to begin it’s second life.

MCM desk front view IMG_8390

Not sure of it’s final destination, but it has lots of storage, two drawers on one side and a cubby on the other.

MCM desk open drawers IMG_8404

So here’s the before, tired and leaning to one side.

desk before front IMG_7464

and here’s the after, strong and confident.

MCM desk front view IMG_8390

All in all, I’m pleased. Mid Century Modern Desk completed. Check. So many more pieces waiting in the wings but I’m making progress and have kicked procrastination to the curb once again. Hands on hips, I almost feel like a creative super hero. Yeah!!!

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Between Naps on the Porch: Metamorphosis Monday
The Shabby Creek Cottage:Transformation Thursday
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Funky Junk Interiors: Saturday Night Special

Mar6

A Box and a Dream

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A Box and a Dream

So the box arrived. Not just any box, THE BOX!

box IMG_8246

I could hardly contain myself. Inside contains a dream, a vision and a creative journey that I started over 5 years ago. It’s contents are a symbol of the hard work and constant thought that I had put my on the back burner far too long. After second guessing and doubting myself all along the way, I decided to kick fear to the curb and go for it!

So let’s see what’s inside. Here’s your first clue. Hmmmh, what could this be?

box opened IMG_8251

How about now? Can you guess?

art stamps stacked IMG_8262

Okay, I know the suspense is just too much as it has been for me since I began my journey. Here it is!

art stamp sheets IMG_8264

These beautiful red rubber sheets are my first set of art stamps that I designed from a DIY point of view. Art stamps are a wonderful creative tool that can be used on a variety of surfaces to give any creative project that personal touch of embellishment. And the great thing is, they are quick, easy and fun to use!

More to come. I’m heading over to Etsy to set up shop. Yeah!

Feb14

Are You Feeling Valentine’s Day?

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Are You Feeling Valentine’s Day?

I don’t mean to rain on anyone’s parade but I’m not feeling Valentine’s Day. No decorations this year. Didn’t even make an attempt as I did last year. There’s something about this instant turn it on, feel this right now and if you’re not feeling it, then something is wrong with you that just doesn’t work for me. It’s really the other 364 days that matter so much more. You know what I mean? And the commercialism of it all flat out bugs me. However, if you are one of those who celebrates in a creative, DIY way, then I’m instantly intrigued.

With that said, I think this chair can add romance to any room, not just on one day, but everyday.

Or how about daily soaks in this beautiful bathroom

 

or stepping into this lovely outdoor space and lounging till the sun sets?

 

 Yes romantic spaces are what do it for me. Especially the ones that make me stop, gasp and bring me into present moment envy.

How about you? Are you feeling Valentine’s Day?

Either way, have a beautiful day!  And please know, I heart your comments.  They make me smile every time.

Feb1

A Desk Molded into Shape

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A Desk Molded into Shape

I found this desk at a yard sale last summer. When I spotted it, I liked it’s mid century appeal but it was not very sturdy and the legs were wobbly. Poor thing, as you can see it was leaning to one side.

desk before front IMG_7464

No problem, a little DIY will take care of that. Since I always wanted to redo a piece of furniture using moldings and this desk needed more structure, I thought this would be the perfect piece to do just that.

desk before angle IMG_7484

I added leg braces to the underside.

desk leg brace IMG_8156

Removed the front apron.

desk apron attached IMG_7982

Initially I used remnant molding from previous projects; however, later I decided to stick to straight lines to coincide with it’s mid century style. I ended up purchasing additional flat molding to complete the job.

desk front IMG_8121

I added molding along the drawer fronts and the opposite door and an additional layer on the top, a remnant piece of wood from my china cabinet project I had painted by mistake.

desk angle topIMG_8128

I repainted the top and sides with Miss Mustard Seed’s Ironstone Milk Paint. Love experimenting with the paint!

MMS ironstone and roller IMG_8138

I was totally blown away by it’s ability to adhere to the slick, un-sanded laminate surface. I thought surely it would not adhere or result in a chippy finish. Instead it produced a durable finish. Here is a test sample that I did on the back to test it out. I even tried to scratch it off with my fingernail and it did not come off. Unpredictably amazing!

desk chalk paint sample IMG_8143

As for the top, although the stripes are much less visible, I have a few more coats to go.

desk top painted IMG_8159

I’m thinking about staining the drawer fronts, drawer, and top edges in a variegated medium dark stain finish.

desk trim close up 2 IMG_8146

As for the legs that have been untouched, not too sure about that either, paint or stain? I have both white and dark pieces in my home and I like the versatility to move things from room to room whenever I feel the need to change things up. I guess I have some more experimenting to do before I take the plunge.

desk front IMG_8148

I’m open to suggestions and inspiration? In the meantime, I am going to poke around Pinterest for ideas.

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Jan25

Candle Remnants

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Candle Remnants

I love candles. They make me relax and elevate my mood especially when the days are short and the weather is cold and dreary. You can read about the beginning of my love affair with candles here. However, what I dislike about candles are the remnants significant unused portion that gets discarded.

candle remnants IMG_8063

However, desperation inspired me to find a way to use the meaningful remnants that remain. You see, I had purchased a Citrus Vanilla candle by Essential Elements. When the candle could no longer burn, I was disappointed that this scent had been discontinued from their line:(

I decided to use the candle wax remnants to make a new candle, a little version of it’s former self.

candle citrus vanilla IMG_5230

It’s so easy to do. Here’s what you need for this project.

Small jar
Purchased wicks (available in different lengths)
Cheese cloth or guaze

1. Decide what jar you are going to use for your new mini candle. I re-purposed a small food jar for the one above and used a small mason jar for this tutorial. Adhere the wick to the bottom of the jar using a dab of hot glue.

candle wick IMG_8080

2. Scoop out the remnants from the jar. Using a dinner knife, cut it into sections, then run it around the perimeter. Most of the time, it will pop out very easily.

candle remnant sectioned IMG_8068

3. Separate the wick base from the wax using the knife. Don’t worry if your wax is charred or contains soot. It will be filtered out in step 5.

candle wax separated IMG_8076

4. Place the chunks into a jar and place in a pot of water. Bring water to a slow simmer and wait for wax to melt.

candle wax melting IMG_8092

5. Place the cheesecloth or guaze over the jar

candle jar with guaze IMG_8094

and pour wax into the jar.

candle pouring wax IMG_8096

This will filter out all the soot residue.

candle soot residue IMG_8100

It will set up in minutes.

candle setting up IMG_8104

I had enough to make a second one using one of the original jars.

candle small setting up IMG_8108

That’s it! Wasn’t that easy? A brand new candle made from candle remnants that would, otherwise, have been thrown away. I like that!

candle finsihed IMG_8109

What do you think? Doable project? Do you have a favorite candle scent?

Final Notes: I would stay away from mixing scents or at least be careful when doing so. You don’t want to end up with a “not so great” smelling candle. I am a vanilla person so I was able to combine all my vanilla candle remnants together.

And I dislike having to end on a frightening note but I have to include candle safety suggestions taken from the UL’s website because I care about your safety.

“Keep an eye on burning candles.
Place candles out of the reach of children and pets.
Extinguish candles when leaving the room or going to sleep.
Don’t place candles near curtains, bedding, paper, walls or any combustible materials.
Use a sturdy, non-combustible candleholder that can collect drippings and won’t tip over.
Extinguish a candle when 2 inches of wax remains or a half-inch if the candle is in a container. This prevents heat damage to the surface and stops glass containers from breaking.
Always keep candles – as well as matches and lighters – out of the reach of children.”

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Jan10

Still Learning and Growing

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Still Learning and Growing

I learned a lot about myself and had some “ahh haa” moments while I was working on No.1 Son’s bedroom. The biggest discovery – a total room makeover in a short period of time while blogging isn’t for me. To be totally honest, I stink at it:) I have the utmost respect for those who are able to to create amazing spaces while taking amazing pics along the way. I bow to you. I’m not there yet, but more importantly, I realized that I’m not so sure I want to be there. Maybe, I will change my mind at a later date. If so, I will add it to my list of aspirations and forge ahead then.

We all have talents and my creative talents work best for me when I focus on one, not many. So I decided to dedicate this year to doing what I love and using discarded remnants of everyday life in fun and inventive ways.

So whether I’m using discarded shirts to create fun pillows

settee with pillows_3728

or cover a footstool

IMG_3747
or leftover fabric to make an ornament

blue-quilted-ornament

or updating the outdated like this dining table turned island,

table-and-island_0844

my creative passions lie in mixing and matching ideas to create unique designs worthy of life anew. That is when I have fun, that is what makes me happy and that is what gives me the joy. With that said, I think 2013 is going to be a good year!

Do you have any creative plans or aspirations for 2013?

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Dec28

Home by Christmas – Part 2

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Home by Christmas – Part 2

I was all psyched to do my remake of Home by Christmas. By the way, I figured out why I am so drawn to this movie. It’s because of Linda Hamilton’s character’s “pick yourself up by your bootstrap” tenacity, her creative approach to life’s dilemmas and, of course her passion for home decor.

I had big plans to have a beautiful styled room for No. 1 Son coming home from college for the holidays. Let’s just say that the final result didn’t quite match my good intentions My room makeover resulted in a calamity of events, back aches and shear exhaustion. The sore back came from going up and down 2 flights of stairs all day long and hauling furniture, retrieving supplies, tools, etc. between the basement and 2nd floor. At first, I was wondering why I was so exhausted and then by day 3 I decided to put on a pedometer. Turns out I was averaging 10,000 steps, mostly stairs each day. I think that would exhaust just about anyone, don’t you think? If this is sounding like a pit party, I assure you it’s not. Well maybe a little:)

What exactly did I accomplish?

I removed the decoupaged sheet music from the nightstands I had refinished a few months back.

The veneer was in such bad condition and I was looking for a quick fix.

It just didn’t work and they sat it my garage ever since. So I removed the decoupaged paper and started over.

Boy was that a challenge! After much scraping and sanding, I patched the veneer, worked out the blisters and repainted.

I refinished his dresser

and stained his desk.

Installed cellular shades.

No success finding any curtains as of yet. I might resort to making some if I continue to have no luck.

After that, it was mostly cleaning and tidying up. I discovered No. 1 Son, like Mr. DIY, has paper issues. He still had high school papers nestled in this book case. It was a mess but it’s organized now. I wanted to paint it but I ran out of time.

This photo album was buried in all the rubble. His grandmother arranged a montage of his life. I stopped to reminisce for a while. Time flies much too fast.

Hard to believe my now 6’2″ son was ever that small.

I stuck a lame bow on the door. When No. 1 Son arrived home, I accompanied him up to his room. A young man of very few words, his response went something like this:

No. 2 son: New furniture?
Me: No
No. 2 Son: This is my desk?
Me: Yes
Taking a closer look, then quickly diverting his attention to the dresser
No. 2 Son: (Wide tooth grin and shaking his head) That is NOT my dresser!
Me: Yes, it is.
No. 2 Son: Wasn’t my dresser wider?
Me: No. that’s the same dresser.

He took a couple of turns around and smiled.

That’s all I remember. It was extremely late and I was exhausted having worked right up to the last minute. Although it was a great learning experience (I will save that for another post), I was glad to be done for now. The end result was a spanking clean room, three furniture redo’s – a blank canvas, ready to be accessorized.

Can you relate? What do you do when your vision and execution are out of sync and frustration sets in?

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Miss Mustard Seed: Furniture Feature Friday

Funky Junk Interiors: Saturday Night Special

Dec13

In Over My Head

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In Over My Head

I decided to make over No. 2 Son’s room and I think I took on a little more than I can handle in such a short period of time. Things are not going as smoothly as planned and I am starting to panic.

I am having trouble with trying to coordinate all the different finishes among the different style of pieces in the room. I don’t like my first attempt with the dresser. I thought I would try a two toned look, stained top, painted bottom using some Federal Blue milk paint I purchased years ago and never used. It has a purple tint to it that I tried to tone down but is still looking strange especially with the blue walls. If this wasn’t a “use what you have” makeover, I would have tried one of Miss Mustard Seed’s pretty milk paint colors for sure.

So what else is in the room? A pair of black mid-century nightstands, one of which is pictured above.

A desk which was left unfinished since Mr. DIY made it many moons ago.

I used Minwax English Chestnut which I am not exactly doing cartwheels over.


A media cabinet I made for him as well.

And his bed also made by Mr. DIY and myself.

I never took a picture of the finished bed but you can get an idea of what it looks like. It has a rich chocolate brown finish.

Yes, even more blue. Blue walls, blue headboard and blue dresser. Perhaps a little too much blue for one room. It’s just not looking like what I envisioned in my head. Not sure what to do but I am running out of time. HELP! Suggestions welcomed.