Buck Head Wall Art

<div align="center"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbN0NTBzBCEYxGCk-DxI-XW1Inze1BNEN_te4jQirEbYbpw8WU5eDG4zy2Drdh5pLwTO6gucW-9eKeZVbf0__NsYFAiN3-E4WMLUkKdvGrPH8AepJMkk-l-vvR_aehRsYkiANSXA0iyE/s1600/moose+head4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DIY wall art, wall art, silhouette, animal head silhouette" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbN0NTBzBCEYxGCk-DxI-XW1Inze1BNEN_te4jQirEbYbpw8WU5eDG4zy2Drdh5pLwTO6gucW-9eKeZVbf0__NsYFAiN3-E4WMLUkKdvGrPH8AepJMkk-l-vvR_aehRsYkiANSXA0iyE/s320/moose+head4.jpg" title="" width="286" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I covet animal busts. But with price tags for the real kind in the hundreds of dollars, I realize <br />I'm not going to get one any time soon. <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">However, I recently read a post by one of my favorite bloggers, Amy at Buffalo Roam <a href="http://buffalo-roam.com/?p=3728">HERE</a>. She printed out animal silhouettes, and painted them on cork board for her little guys room. <em>Brilliant idea!</em> <br /><br />Amy's idea gave me a plan for using a silhouette of an animal head in my home. Not to mention, this was such an easy and fun project, I just wanted to do it! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Buck Head is free to print out <a href="http://manmadediy.com/pages/4-downloads">HERE</a>. Or, if you're looking for different silhouettes, <br />just look for free graphics on Pinterest or Google. There are <em>TONS</em>. </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">I liked this buck silhouette that Amy linked, so, I printed it out.  I wanted a larger silhouette, but my printer wouldn't allow me to print a larger copy over several pages, so I took the small print and had it blown up at Staples. (The cost was .18 cents!). <br /><br />I then cut it out, and traced it on a large (24" x 18") canvas.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIFAAK2b4hxq1uABSm1zogvt1oSmij15WvjpzCVkJvhFqWPX-J1WTnGqUzDpRt5Xz_udmhe77ST9yrHf29urzPksLRJgHENgC_w7B4e4DlsiBxUo8KeQOTBOBsH-gYC0ZIVIIht9v_UI/s1600/moose+head1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIFAAK2b4hxq1uABSm1zogvt1oSmij15WvjpzCVkJvhFqWPX-J1WTnGqUzDpRt5Xz_udmhe77ST9yrHf29urzPksLRJgHENgC_w7B4e4DlsiBxUo8KeQOTBOBsH-gYC0ZIVIIht9v_UI/s320/moose+head1.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Easy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLs8nSMbp8OG33oGLxzykkzWoaxE6svxitrybc7Bt-b6-wuGcqF2SoAiWtaBpr9vnxVv-ryb25wqI6Msbr0QpwFvV47M1dDyS8w0b4-kxHIxwwDfWbIwAr44PLlyn3lItVONQXiUKiSo/s1600/moosehead2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLs8nSMbp8OG33oGLxzykkzWoaxE6svxitrybc7Bt-b6-wuGcqF2SoAiWtaBpr9vnxVv-ryb25wqI6Msbr0QpwFvV47M1dDyS8w0b4-kxHIxwwDfWbIwAr44PLlyn3lItVONQXiUKiSo/s320/moosehead2.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And super fun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFJCvmndfygCFR4UxR5edtyvZl1OcPuyfPDCav9KdjNLStPIWuExWxj9zD1BlnobklseObG37gxJcqzsVsc9qGYO9qh7fEkhEH_2mI_afidMCLCNC_9QIk0SBI0kZGUjfJMN9KEJbtoc/s1600/moosehead3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFJCvmndfygCFR4UxR5edtyvZl1OcPuyfPDCav9KdjNLStPIWuExWxj9zD1BlnobklseObG37gxJcqzsVsc9qGYO9qh7fEkhEH_2mI_afidMCLCNC_9QIk0SBI0kZGUjfJMN9KEJbtoc/s320/moosehead3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I filled in the traced head with black acrylic paint. I toyed with the idea of making him sparkly, but I'm trying to cut down on glitter...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>(Painting is not shown - but in my defense - I got side-tracked because </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>I brewed pot of coffee, but forgot the coffee. Aaaaargh!)</em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While waiting for the paint to dry, I sulked a little about the coffee.  Meanwhile, I had the idea to cover the whole canvas with burlap. I checked with Big A, who can be somewhat suspicious of my (sometimes) impulsive ideas, and he actually liked this one! Woot woot! </div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To keep the burlap in place, I used the staple gun, and stapled the burlap in just four places. I then used hot glue on the back side of the canvas, and glued it all around.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At this point, because I was caffeine deficient, I thought it would be a good idea to use my bare fingers to press the burlap into the hot glue! Umm <em>OW</em>. (I suggest <em>you</em> skip this step, and use something besides your fingers - like an old knife.) </div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anyway, it all worked out in the end! </div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I got a cool new deer head to hang on my wall. </div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Big A made me another pot of coffee, with coffee in it. </div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And, my fingers, well, they'll heal. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnXFaK5b67NAwR0JXYG7i_XOjdQ7KrlotSxZvbSwd4FlRsK38Rh52q28WPSrZUG53zcpDfACU7BE5JJNycllS0iws4RCeMbmtjviOHHHb79hnKj5a36mzUxP27XbW985RtOyY69OabtY/s1600/moose+head6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnXFaK5b67NAwR0JXYG7i_XOjdQ7KrlotSxZvbSwd4FlRsK38Rh52q28WPSrZUG53zcpDfACU7BE5JJNycllS0iws4RCeMbmtjviOHHHb79hnKj5a36mzUxP27XbW985RtOyY69OabtY/s320/moose+head6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To hang, I broke a soda tab off of and empty soda and glued it to the center top of the back of the frame.  (Like <a href="http://lifehacker.com/5750306/hang-a-picture-with-an-old-pop-can-tab">THIS</a>, only I used glue to attach it to the frame). The canvas is so light you could just use a finishing nail to hang it. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbN0NTBzBCEYxGCk-DxI-XW1Inze1BNEN_te4jQirEbYbpw8WU5eDG4zy2Drdh5pLwTO6gucW-9eKeZVbf0__NsYFAiN3-E4WMLUkKdvGrPH8AepJMkk-l-vvR_aehRsYkiANSXA0iyE/s1600/moose+head4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbN0NTBzBCEYxGCk-DxI-XW1Inze1BNEN_te4jQirEbYbpw8WU5eDG4zy2Drdh5pLwTO6gucW-9eKeZVbf0__NsYFAiN3-E4WMLUkKdvGrPH8AepJMkk-l-vvR_aehRsYkiANSXA0iyE/s320/moose+head4.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Notes</em><em>:</em></strong></div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;"><em> I notice that there is a strip of the burlap across the deer nose that looks a little darker, or more dense. It's less noticeable in real life, but, I may have to re-do the burlap if my OCD takes over. </em></div></li><li><div style="text-align: left;"><em>I loved this so much I made one for my sister. </em></div></li><li><div style="text-align: left;"><em>There is some debate over whether this is a buck or a moose. </em><em>The free graphic said it was a deer, but my kids say moose. What do you think?</em></div></li></ul><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>

Buck Head Wall Art

 I covet animal busts. But with price tags for the real kind in the hundreds of dollars, I realize I'm not going to get one any time so...

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Painting with a Soda Bottle

Hello there! I hope you all had a great Memorial Day! We had a great weekend - got some planting done, hung out with family. We had a couple of nice days, but a little rain too. <br /><br />I was horrified that it might rain on my proverbial parade. Every Spring I do the same thing. I'm shocked and surprised when there's a rainy day. It's as if I have seasonal amnesia. <em>What? It's raining? Why is it raining? </em><br /><br />(I also have allergy amnesia -<em> Why is my nose running? Why do I have a headache? Am I sick?)</em><br /><em></em><br />Yeah. I know. It's Spring. Spring means rain. Rain means a forced break from the yard work. Therefore, with the clouds forming, and my nose running, I came up with something to do inside that I thought I'd share with you.  <br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Sorry about the pictures, I didn't have my camera and had to use my phone.)</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />Here it is: <br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHO8taT4VOInwjvyZ52xdb9nYF_WrsI2i5VzbsTtm7Z7U1q6DnHr74jwirnIleUkc2hmnZgywYtZw_Ot_I5vrzfs8Qh6_v816GUIta2WhzoN2kV5KRayM-PeJwfbdQF43qdMzcCEiDCFE/s1600/DSC_0369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHO8taT4VOInwjvyZ52xdb9nYF_WrsI2i5VzbsTtm7Z7U1q6DnHr74jwirnIleUkc2hmnZgywYtZw_Ot_I5vrzfs8Qh6_v816GUIta2WhzoN2kV5KRayM-PeJwfbdQF43qdMzcCEiDCFE/s320/DSC_0369.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Years ago, my grandfather made a frame to hold a cork board. He had it hanging in their cottage on the lake, pinned with photos of the family.  The original Pinterest.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">He passed away years ago, and I've wanted to do something with the frame for <em>EVER</em>. It's kinda cool and chunky looking. I just couldn't decide on anything special enough to use it for. At one point I painted the cork part yellow, but nothing else really came to me. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Meanwhile I'd seen this idea on Pinterest and thought I could make something similar...</div><img alt="" class="image pinImage" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/2b/e0/2e/2be02eafa00b57fc03ab828f26dd84f9.jpg" style="height: 460px; margin: 0px auto; padding: 40px 0px; width: 500px;" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Because I was forced indoors, I decided to do someting for the frame, rather than wait for a better idea to come along. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">So I cut out a square of burlap. (You know how to get a straight line when you cut burlap? You pull one the strings of burlap where you want your cut to be. The material will scrunch up, and when the string is pulled out, it leaves a perfectly straight line that you can then cut along.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">I then just pulled some of the strings along the edge to make a fray, like so: </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4nRS2YE3ORt-iQa7K5LGhfY4JIiAC4BIlKCiOK2Xd4p3TrsVY0epgE3m86nUtPXULwx2iE_P4qUvyEcT3fsHVkObB9zNFdhOuANUTtJjjDGuLOwyUtaXpmQKTHOqN0YD_teb8h3pO_6s/s1600/may2013+042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4nRS2YE3ORt-iQa7K5LGhfY4JIiAC4BIlKCiOK2Xd4p3TrsVY0epgE3m86nUtPXULwx2iE_P4qUvyEcT3fsHVkObB9zNFdhOuANUTtJjjDGuLOwyUtaXpmQKTHOqN0YD_teb8h3pO_6s/s320/may2013+042.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Using the glue gun, I glued the square of burlap onto the cork board. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I drew a branch, while my two teenagers laughed at me for using my lil guy's paint brush. (You can see it below - the kind that comes with a coloring book.)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibos03vVJLtyP3Nk3zJBiC82Zh89S2dJIiW8PvbEFTcOl2CIixHACV8L6gxW_wcoSWc_s0kUynWbCDo4OaPhWlRrDcVAa4Q40OyrUPjofYNJ8AxoZPseIYFAeoNqEbjPhD5F0eaDLl8Yk/s1600/may2013+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibos03vVJLtyP3Nk3zJBiC82Zh89S2dJIiW8PvbEFTcOl2CIixHACV8L6gxW_wcoSWc_s0kUynWbCDo4OaPhWlRrDcVAa4Q40OyrUPjofYNJ8AxoZPseIYFAeoNqEbjPhD5F0eaDLl8Yk/s320/may2013+035.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For the flowers, I used an empty soda bottle - right up off of my elder son's bedroom floor. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yeah, we're classy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just dip and press. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1pXY24yDxdPee7KKY4INrKh-muJSBujgyEK4O07A2stUk33HYtVnZTo-joDuoE0m23rRzqxC54rnEBJLO4d_bgWRX6AYC3HUNVJ2CV6NpkyUTwWrYxGLt_FiuI0v6IrFjz-lpNUCqnHI/s320/may2013+036.JPG" width="320" /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4Sqzzu_jxm24g1etsiby8jc_zMv78L8udFws8ZteXx6fsRk2k8RAPeBM1h8y51lxLeOR1Ha9ZCwQYSn3cKnUd9WA7jJIwsvTUcLwtu7496ZTykea7NwmLLiZi0LyLwoF0_MChDB9PPM/s1600/may2013+038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4Sqzzu_jxm24g1etsiby8jc_zMv78L8udFws8ZteXx6fsRk2k8RAPeBM1h8y51lxLeOR1Ha9ZCwQYSn3cKnUd9WA7jJIwsvTUcLwtu7496ZTykea7NwmLLiZi0LyLwoF0_MChDB9PPM/s320/may2013+038.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoQI0M7wvS-1TM5aLGMN57GmRmHALHjJKYkV4WjhEzl7FTrjjfKQYNjH-QDLM_PovFckGixkXmwszhT9dKVlgiu3BJGgtwKvim7xh8d-05Rk-bTh2-5f_vigkCDrRga8nun1SbYJ4Eik/s1600/may2013+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoQI0M7wvS-1TM5aLGMN57GmRmHALHjJKYkV4WjhEzl7FTrjjfKQYNjH-QDLM_PovFckGixkXmwszhT9dKVlgiu3BJGgtwKvim7xh8d-05Rk-bTh2-5f_vigkCDrRga8nun1SbYJ4Eik/s320/may2013+039.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoQI0M7wvS-1TM5aLGMN57GmRmHALHjJKYkV4WjhEzl7FTrjjfKQYNjH-QDLM_PovFckGixkXmwszhT9dKVlgiu3BJGgtwKvim7xh8d-05Rk-bTh2-5f_vigkCDrRga8nun1SbYJ4Eik/s1600/may2013+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoQI0M7wvS-1TM5aLGMN57GmRmHALHjJKYkV4WjhEzl7FTrjjfKQYNjH-QDLM_PovFckGixkXmwszhT9dKVlgiu3BJGgtwKvim7xh8d-05Rk-bTh2-5f_vigkCDrRga8nun1SbYJ4Eik/s1600/may2013+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoQI0M7wvS-1TM5aLGMN57GmRmHALHjJKYkV4WjhEzl7FTrjjfKQYNjH-QDLM_PovFckGixkXmwszhT9dKVlgiu3BJGgtwKvim7xh8d-05Rk-bTh2-5f_vigkCDrRga8nun1SbYJ4Eik/s1600/may2013+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;" unselectable="on"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoQI0M7wvS-1TM5aLGMN57GmRmHALHjJKYkV4WjhEzl7FTrjjfKQYNjH-QDLM_PovFckGixkXmwszhT9dKVlgiu3BJGgtwKvim7xh8d-05Rk-bTh2-5f_vigkCDrRga8nun1SbYJ4Eik/s1600/may2013+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoQI0M7wvS-1TM5aLGMN57GmRmHALHjJKYkV4WjhEzl7FTrjjfKQYNjH-QDLM_PovFckGixkXmwszhT9dKVlgiu3BJGgtwKvim7xh8d-05Rk-bTh2-5f_vigkCDrRga8nun1SbYJ4Eik/s1600/may2013+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT67LvBt7n6YpKT1Gdvk0EAKNe5tSF9s4Gk1PTNtTQg0uL5TjFeR5hl0M8gcElVChzfTB0Yh36rEojwI9UCq0RzIqbWJ_LQAtv6Ts25NjnZh6Zg8-Ryt2Ozd1hFVEC_xY7MWontQ6Lukk/s1600/may2013+040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> And there you have it. Wall art from an old frame, a kids paint brush, and an empty soda bottle. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfi96aDSvM-Yih_Fiq1eSQcU2B1WNgOxpBr7EUJIjz_5RKh0OtZq-BvAxU-8q-xTUnIc-0ottOKzRNcXEdf9Hlr8f-SlWaiXJYpw4cb1H7k4hK7amuGgpHaXUyVea2qlxIqrQFwveNs4/s1600/DSC_0374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfi96aDSvM-Yih_Fiq1eSQcU2B1WNgOxpBr7EUJIjz_5RKh0OtZq-BvAxU-8q-xTUnIc-0ottOKzRNcXEdf9Hlr8f-SlWaiXJYpw4cb1H7k4hK7amuGgpHaXUyVea2qlxIqrQFwveNs4/s320/DSC_0374.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlRZNJeM-CxLuHiYJFKg8JmvNkP2-URHUsbd4yAnJJW-NZBJtCnoAs_wqz0rg2pACbkFApwTbr3rceYNNGz6Hk67bD_uloU_KKcv1yCLzUSwiEHpEkWd6CwRLXUOTtMwww5H7WaKEyRA/s1600/DSC_0371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlRZNJeM-CxLuHiYJFKg8JmvNkP2-URHUsbd4yAnJJW-NZBJtCnoAs_wqz0rg2pACbkFApwTbr3rceYNNGz6Hk67bD_uloU_KKcv1yCLzUSwiEHpEkWd6CwRLXUOTtMwww5H7WaKEyRA/s320/DSC_0371.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I like it. And I'm happy I'm able to use my grandfather's frame. </div><br />Want to PARTY???<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;">Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cedarhill-ranch.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;">The Scoop at Cedar Hill Ranch</span></a><span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cupcakesandcrinoline.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;">Project Inspired{d}at Cupcakes and Crinoline</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kathewithane.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;">You're Gonna Love It at Kathe with an E</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pjhdesignsoneofakind.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red; 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font-size: x-small;">Show and Tell Friday at Romantic Home</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thecottagemarket.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;">Junkin' Joe Vintage and Thrifty Finds at The Cottage Market</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tatertotsandjello.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;">Weekend Wrap-Up Party at Tatertots and Jello</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://shabbyartboutique.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;">Shabbilicious Friday Link Party at Shabby Art Boutique</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.504main.com/2013/03/tickled-pink-136.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;">Tickled Pink at 504 Main</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;">Anything Blue Friday at The Dedicated House</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://homespunhappenings-tammy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;">Rustic Restorations Weekend Link Party at Homespun Happenings</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.funnypostpartumlady.org/2013/04/tgif-blog-hop-linky-party.html?m=1"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;">TGIF Blog Hop</span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div></div>

Painting with a Soda Bottle

Hello there! I hope you all had a great Memorial Day! We had a great weekend - got some planting done, hung out with family. We had a couple...

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Giant Wall Art DIY

<br /><div align="center">Hello and Happy Wednesday! </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Here is a</div><div align="center">HUGE </div><div align="center">FREE </div><div align="center">WALL ART </div><div align="center">DIY </div><div align="center">project I made yesterday. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Mine measures 5 feet across, but you could make yours any size to fit any wall.  </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxdua10MA20YM6HJ90FN6XSxj_Pcc_m7GJBwmj4WKGkYbt0RhJH6XfEADS8mchiiSNmkdkqxw-CYXLLkI1fAgxTOt4237tvs5YKc_fNpQzZHhIpLKYlrXw1C6KZOX16ulE57GikHa7kw/s1600/5-1-13+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxdua10MA20YM6HJ90FN6XSxj_Pcc_m7GJBwmj4WKGkYbt0RhJH6XfEADS8mchiiSNmkdkqxw-CYXLLkI1fAgxTOt4237tvs5YKc_fNpQzZHhIpLKYlrXw1C6KZOX16ulE57GikHa7kw/s320/5-1-13+007.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmJnYjNALjz9Ihm5HhjDb5a0uB5Is1l2GbgS6-QdYdJ7D7hfx0IErXe5XrYrOTi_171iYzv9GhwMuC_paXlCnECSzw6GRmK7uNxZtswNIOkHKXUyjiaOxfcqnv9xQP5t1N8H01YUyuE8/s1600/5-1-13+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">This week the temperatures have been in the mid-60's, the flowers are blooming, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and the buds are bursting. You know what that means? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Yard work. Hard work. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Here in CNY (or at least at my house) Spring brings the <strike>disappointment</strike>  <em>wonderful surprise</em> of everything the snow has been hiding all winter. In our case, it was sticks, sticks, and more sticks. And leaves, leaves and, yep, more leaves - all covered by the snow, before we had a chance to rake them, and now pressed together to the consistency of cement. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Sweet! (And by "sweet" I mean another "S" word. No, it's not "Surprise!")</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's the thing. I HATE raking. My back hates raking. My kids hate raking. My hubby hates raking.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> This year our yard was so bad, to save my sanity, I decided it was a mind over matter situation. To get through it, I told myself I LOVE raking. I love the exercise (my back is screaming), I love the fresh air (my nose is streaming), I love the wildlife (mangling worms and tearing them in half)... LOVE IT! </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Anyway, with the help of the troops, I got through it, and we have the yard cleared up - ready for mulch and planting. I suppose it is somewhat satisfying. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">And then I had a thought. I might as well get something out of this - satisfaction? Nah. Not good enough. I want something I can touch and see. Like wall art, of course. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">I gathered up the nicer looking sticks and kinda formed a plan in my head. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCLteeZ4G9kQoK8anej-816jxGyYHVf8BIAxRHuizaFwo1OhJbLCGVib9flmV8wHPwGJlzuFVrtYyYvxX27sdJOndnCT7Bx0eQnv5sqkZx7jEko4xJE-YZM1r8ir0McklM1aRZ3-MgZ0/s1600/5-1-13+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfa5lak4XHg1717CW9XvRyeawJU0AmfZhJk028exTLMku07lUk7ny7zXTw6ZGA4FMdeXfAQoLSGNKhx4NqO4Dr-IteOz4GTBMvh7aewXUU5atQyywT_sRQgx3hjxpp3Y3EpDpALS32UZY/s1600/5-1-13+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfa5lak4XHg1717CW9XvRyeawJU0AmfZhJk028exTLMku07lUk7ny7zXTw6ZGA4FMdeXfAQoLSGNKhx4NqO4Dr-IteOz4GTBMvh7aewXUU5atQyywT_sRQgx3hjxpp3Y3EpDpALS32UZY/s320/5-1-13+004.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have a large archway from our kitchen to the hall, which requires something large. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, I made a 5 foot sunburst, using some of those sticks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First, I cut out a 6" circle of card board, and covered it in burlap. I used this as a base for the sunburst. It is the center where I glued all of the sticks. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpwJR56bzymwXJYZ8-RQ9sQSmGFTQCJT0F6Zsbs9mGnCod4VDpT29QzvwR_qbhM2z7JKX5tn0RxtXy0uHGyeSLynqgTPKOauc6GetW77Pv1b0cmIyqjUfaFgEbeLZ2sJGGAKJwgyOYxM/s1600/5-1-13+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpwJR56bzymwXJYZ8-RQ9sQSmGFTQCJT0F6Zsbs9mGnCod4VDpT29QzvwR_qbhM2z7JKX5tn0RxtXy0uHGyeSLynqgTPKOauc6GetW77Pv1b0cmIyqjUfaFgEbeLZ2sJGGAKJwgyOYxM/s320/5-1-13+006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next, I cut the sticks to two different lengths. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCLteeZ4G9kQoK8anej-816jxGyYHVf8BIAxRHuizaFwo1OhJbLCGVib9flmV8wHPwGJlzuFVrtYyYvxX27sdJOndnCT7Bx0eQnv5sqkZx7jEko4xJE-YZM1r8ir0McklM1aRZ3-MgZ0/s1600/5-1-13+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCLteeZ4G9kQoK8anej-816jxGyYHVf8BIAxRHuizaFwo1OhJbLCGVib9flmV8wHPwGJlzuFVrtYyYvxX27sdJOndnCT7Bx0eQnv5sqkZx7jEko4xJE-YZM1r8ir0McklM1aRZ3-MgZ0/s320/5-1-13+002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div align="center">(I couldn't find my pruners, so I just used needle nose pliers with a cutter. </div><div align="center">Where there's a will, there's a way.)</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Being a highly technical person, I then used my eyeballing method to place the sticks. </div><div align="center">For a little more detail on such method, and making sunbursts, go <a href="http://happyhouseandhome.blogspot.com/2013/04/diy-sunburst-mirror-under-8.html">HERE</a>! </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">I used my glue gun to glue all of the sticks symmetrically on the piece of cardboard. </div><div align="center">I had this cool plate that used to belong to my grandparents, and I thought that would make the perfect center for my sunburst. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilicZuoK30LGM2eGdsnhnDX41YHzBI9ZJfIznWe5iYwXx7YCCWvq2PMhfQhfFuCPhH6gD1hFcc8FCk-jCFOjIpt6H_aKtmGrq5AhNWlWh-W3Pa0BsShuX3wHQ3W9RS9Te5o-LXJ1tkwRw/s1600/5-1-13+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilicZuoK30LGM2eGdsnhnDX41YHzBI9ZJfIznWe5iYwXx7YCCWvq2PMhfQhfFuCPhH6gD1hFcc8FCk-jCFOjIpt6H_aKtmGrq5AhNWlWh-W3Pa0BsShuX3wHQ3W9RS9Te5o-LXJ1tkwRw/s320/5-1-13+012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">And here it is.  </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmJnYjNALjz9Ihm5HhjDb5a0uB5Is1l2GbgS6-QdYdJ7D7hfx0IErXe5XrYrOTi_171iYzv9GhwMuC_paXlCnECSzw6GRmK7uNxZtswNIOkHKXUyjiaOxfcqnv9xQP5t1N8H01YUyuE8/s320/5-1-13+008.JPG" width="212" /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxdua10MA20YM6HJ90FN6XSxj_Pcc_m7GJBwmj4WKGkYbt0RhJH6XfEADS8mchiiSNmkdkqxw-CYXLLkI1fAgxTOt4237tvs5YKc_fNpQzZHhIpLKYlrXw1C6KZOX16ulE57GikHa7kw/s1600/5-1-13+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxdua10MA20YM6HJ90FN6XSxj_Pcc_m7GJBwmj4WKGkYbt0RhJH6XfEADS8mchiiSNmkdkqxw-CYXLLkI1fAgxTOt4237tvs5YKc_fNpQzZHhIpLKYlrXw1C6KZOX16ulE57GikHa7kw/s320/5-1-13+007.JPG" width="320" /></a><br /><br />This is what it looks like through the arch from the kitchen to the hall wall where it resides. (It was difficult to get a good angle for taking this photo, but it does look large and impressive). <br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSLHq6vauWTtJq0kJikUafRs_1CDJjuYhkl9z08OFrTQCf0uLsXE7LImFDOnJEjy7ZHwEbv4EzIbjmom5McWsAAcg5QxbWan_JsNuCw4aE6sbPeQTHT40xM2vc6LwhXi-u2Alfm_Ek-Q/s1600/5-1-13+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSLHq6vauWTtJq0kJikUafRs_1CDJjuYhkl9z08OFrTQCf0uLsXE7LImFDOnJEjy7ZHwEbv4EzIbjmom5McWsAAcg5QxbWan_JsNuCw4aE6sbPeQTHT40xM2vc6LwhXi-u2Alfm_Ek-Q/s320/5-1-13+009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4zy1Qhkl6XRj4TI2vF42fik53PC-Zqru1q_cZeovGwMBae68Dehj0Cwnn5E83VYiP9Dt9aEhPPXEZf1PIwLOmHXNGNzsAbStRf6_GQDvRrfnEg9_EowckpWMtm1lU368tCd_j2GgzUU/s1600/5-1-13+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4zy1Qhkl6XRj4TI2vF42fik53PC-Zqru1q_cZeovGwMBae68Dehj0Cwnn5E83VYiP9Dt9aEhPPXEZf1PIwLOmHXNGNzsAbStRf6_GQDvRrfnEg9_EowckpWMtm1lU368tCd_j2GgzUU/s320/5-1-13+011.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><br /><div align="center"></div><div style="text-align: center;">My teen-aged daughter saw the finished product and claimed that she loved it. However, as she walked by it she said, with a hint of suspicion and doubt, "I hope you used <em>quality</em> sticks". </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, yeah, they're quality sticks. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">So, at the risk of sounding repetitive, I made this huge wall hanging for free. Some quality sticks were sacrificed, and a few worms lost their lives, but otherwise it was free. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilicZuoK30LGM2eGdsnhnDX41YHzBI9ZJfIznWe5iYwXx7YCCWvq2PMhfQhfFuCPhH6gD1hFcc8FCk-jCFOjIpt6H_aKtmGrq5AhNWlWh-W3Pa0BsShuX3wHQ3W9RS9Te5o-LXJ1tkwRw/s1600/5-1-13+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /><div align="center">So what do you think? Have you used anything from your yard to make a wall hanging? </div></div>

Giant Wall Art DIY

Hello and Happy Wednesday!   Here is a HUGE FREE WALL ART DIY project I made yesterday.   Mine measures 5 feet across, but you could make yo...

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Pallets

We're having a little ongoing argument here. It's over pallets. We haven't come to blows over it or anything, but today I decided to finally put this baby to bed. Big A is just going to have to see things my way, and everything will be fine. They don't say "a happy wife, is a happy life" for nothin!<br/><br/>Now I think it's awesome that people are using pallet wood to create book shelves, or wall art, or chairs. I yell "Stop the truck!" when I see pallets by the side of the road.  But Big A thinks pallet wood is crappy wood and simply can't see why I would want it in our home. Despite my protests, he hits the accelerator and guns it on by, leaving the perfectly good, and free, wood sitting by the road.<br/><br/>Clearly he doesn't share my vision, or spend enough time drooling over all of the creative blogs, DIY magazines, or Pinterest. So I'm posting these pictures for him, hopeful that he will change his mind.<br/><br/>These pallet shelves would be perfect in our living room. I would want to stain them a dark color because I think that would look nice with the colors in our house. I can also see using them in the bathroom to hold lotions and potions. <img alt="Pinned Image" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec6.pinterest.com/550x/c2/5d/0e/c25d0e58166c45d729449d4db94a362e.jpg" /><br/>from dumpaday.com<br/><br/>Or maybe something like this to hold photos, books or small house plants.<br/><img alt="Pinned Image" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec6.pinterest.com/550x/06/1d/20/061d2032e42480e3212e018ff4c4361e.jpg" /><br/>from <a href="http://amandacarverdesigns.com/?p=1446" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">amandacarverdesigns.com</a><br/><br/>Imagine something like this in the kitchen holding olive oil or cool vintage bottles. (No, not cans of Monster.)<img alt="Pinned Image" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec1.pinterest.com/550x/b1/f8/cb/b1f8cb5917798543f10a5cc7caf20403.jpg" /><br/>from dumpaday.com<br/><br/>And I love pallet wood as wall art.  This is gorgeous!<br/><img alt="Pinned Image" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec1.pinterest.com/550x/c2/d9/65/c2d965952b8e5835e8e2e5e383d0350a.jpg" /><br/>from <a href="http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com">http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com</a><br/><br/>And I like this too. (Cuz I love you too).<br/><img alt="Pinned Image" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec7.pinterest.com/550x/1b/30/26/1b3026529662df1066e3c058d1df67c2.jpg" /><br/>from <a href="http://www.adorbymelissa.com/">http://www.adorbymelissa.com/</a><br/><br/>And this made me think of you darlin' - isn't this funny and cute?<br/><img alt="Pinned Image" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/550x/9d/1e/af/9d1eaf3c1ec17645d5abf95a70fc959b.jpg" /><br/>from <a href="http://loveurspace.blogspot.com/">http://loveurspace.blogspot.com/</a><br/><br/>People even write books on pallets:<br/><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1565235444/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1565235444&linkCode=as2&tag=fymoho-20">Wood Pallet Projects: Cool and Easy-to-Make Projects for the Home and Garden</a><br/><br/>So, waddaya think? Will you stop the truck next time?<br/><br/><img alt="Pinned Image" class="aligncenter" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec4.pinterest.com/550x/7f/d3/1b/7fd31b0edd760a6dd112f03757c975c0.jpg" /><br/><p style="text-align: center;"> Everybody happy, happy, happy.  -Phil Roberstson</p><br/> 

Pallets

We're having a little ongoing argument here. It's over pallets. We haven't come to blows over it or anything, but today I decide...

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