Nature-inspired paint palette

<p>Hey hey all! The sun is shining, my garbage disposal is fixed – it is a very good day! It’s still not <em>warm</em> – but better. I have hope. :) </p> <p>So I totally got the idea for this post from a reader – <a href="http://housetoyourhome.com">Laurie</a> commented on this recent pic of mine on <a href="http://instagram.com/thriftydecorchick">Instagram</a>:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dw1PZtuPwwSOVZn4EGynXp0y-9d2qCYQTQYB4xkLFWtfss88ooYFefZ5N-KCC-_5GT7Idocqp-IOyEAxvdNKYzbpBtNYihgdfxhtjA86rX4ZqX2LpG1nw-XDpvKVfJTeMJDCOSx2GSM/s1600-h/eggs%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="farm fresh eggs" border="0" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitfFav4ZDyAmo-tn5H1ifdtrcLN-q7TFHcbkZMMj_Arf8-hjTGMBovz47hhxof0jfU5yMeRE6Khdle8cQyIhOHPB-KlDLaKejZ8x1pEoavQetuiIbKWzDP399h_veIcp53bhechNiaJo/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="farm fresh eggs" width="600" /></a></p> <p>It’s a shot of some eggs from a local farm – it’s probably silly but I think they are SO pretty. When Laurie mentioned how they would make a great paint strip an idea was born – why not make one? </p> <p>So I pulled out my Sherwin Williams paint deck and looked <a href="http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/" rel="nofollow">online</a> to find colors that were in this palette. They’re not exact, but I tried to find tones that played nicely together. </p> <p>And there you go: a farm fresh egg inspired color scheme:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYOYL3KJNmSRv1LBFut2VUNWZRI3vHT-UBrm5-Z92B6oP39iklmSoUW17BFffM16ILzNSFS2aPhoqt4Jy3qFdClex6PNxDpGEMH7rg_2GHvpneoGb6W5vFerKaOHA1rhUNPnF4tHecdk/s1600-h/PicMonkey%252520Collage2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Paint palette inspired by farm fresh eggs thriftydecorchick.com" border="0" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATQub22WK6r3QK0if55hHtU6ceVQPFx9TlknwcpcTCNiYszGBOmTt0N587CRWqZP_mWtrE6VHB4AwSqUQqrmNLl3n3_-kXMhnTrez1Yu9WTeLNrsVkMa0lxi0kQR67mvgqoFgr-SPLNc/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Paint palette inspired by farm fresh eggs thriftydecorchick.com" width="600" /></a></p> <p>I love the names too – wouldn’t that be a fun job? ;) </p> <p>Some of the blueish ones leaned more aqua, the lighter ones were a really pale blue. The brown eggs had a bit of a pink tone to them, so I tried to go with taupes that are more warm and less pink. (You know how <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/07/pink-walls-begone.html">I dislike pink walls</a>.) </p> <p>Fun right? I particularly love the Rhinestone and Moroccan brown together. The Snow drop and Colony buff are so pretty too. OH and Brooklet and Outer banks – <strong>LOVE</strong>. </p> <p>These light, pretty colors have me completely rethinking the colors for the powder room. I was going to go with a deeper color but there’s certainly something to be said for a calming combo. I am in a constant struggle between painting rooms deep and dramatic or light and bright – I’m drawn to both! </p> <p>So there you go – a color palette for your home inspired by nature. It was fun and I will do this again in the future for sure. Now I just need to go find more inspiration. ;) </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Have you ever pulled a room color from an unexpected source? </p> <p><font size="3">**SW has a tool that does this for you that I told you about </font><a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/07/chip-it-and-powder-room-plan.html"><font size="3">here</font></a><font size="3"> that’s fun too. And this is not a sponsored post of any kind, I just love paint. :) </font></p>

Nature-inspired paint palette

Hey hey all! The sun is shining, my garbage disposal is fixed – it is a very good day! It’s still not warm – but better. I have hope. :) ...

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The days of our stairs

<p>First up, my friend Cassie over at Hi Sugarplum did a FUN series while she gallivants around Italy (I’m not jealous or anything). You can check out my answers to her 20 questions <a href="http://hisugarplum.blogspot.com/2013/04/20-question-sarah-at-thrifty-decor-chick.html">here</a>. Go ahead. I’ll wait. :)</p> <p>Fun right??</p> <p>I’m feeling so nostalgic about our house lately – I don’t know if it’s because I’m coming up on five years of blogging in less than a month (<em>whoa</em>) or because as of five days from now we will have lived in this house for nine years. </p> <p>It may be a combination of both -- it’s just this time of year I guess. :)</p> <p>I love looking back at the transformation of certain spaces in our house and one of the projects I’m big fat puffy proud of is our staircase. I can’t believe in five years of blogging I only have one before picture of the stairs with the carpet, but here it is, in all of it’s dark, horrible picture-ness:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTuUeTlpINcNIYEbXuQSO6PwlpDoI-KLzLGGsSUA91l2cQxWqzt8c5mW-r4xDtnpos9JZ_gKP4vMA3fY2VV3pLOcedJnOluUhwnyyHWwIG4R7r82mjSL0EJYASmKLi6ltdIFI9s48Dvxk/s1600-h/017_thumb%25255B2%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="christmas stairs" border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETdA-ZTzCIGJ1eI6CTAmpr8NKvy0v8Spe8XkTL1hogTwvOWm-tNx5XIf6bgevQAhaea0oiVfP4MRJSik_YSiwzoiD4RHqKWIjoOd1EEpFx-OlK760_oArFpMHmDncTShhH2VLpCBHjhI/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="christmas stairs" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I got a wild hair a few years ago – I knew we had beautiful wood stairs under that carpet because I was here every. single. day. when they built our house. </p> <p>One day I got the nerve up to <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-to-take-carpet-off-stairs.html">tear off the carpet</a> and the mess started – there was blood. Lots of sweat. And tears. (Just a little.): </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0V6ZbOJ16MiPgfhtSpJQefMRlVD9cuRshCxrPpgPaT5EupUN9Za2AsLni5y6UyuiOzsV7IPiJqw26UzhAmPJbhzQR1L-svivd4K6XPRafoxW4-iFyiS0Bo4UXh2SLUL69mVzUjdIuG7w/s1600-h/028%25255B3%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="taking carpet off stairs" border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4AllBhAG4CCx7nE5rGf_47w7Ln3iZsEZTZyorA-VwxCjdauNjC4HPe_Gjayc8OD8RbfZP15X4KgXTzGfVj-5CHH_fR4pxwoqqEoscGOXgAFKxhKy3XGyK1Z6_qH1nBUlWO6YWk5UCzI/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="taking carpet off stairs" width="400" /></a></p> <p>Tearing up the carpet was easy. Getting every tack strip off and all of the staples (the millions of staples!!!!) was some of the hardest work ever. </p> <p>But it was worth it when I saw the potential:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tS24VgBXHveMWXMKu5xc7XUHVu1QJ9GAqoYjy3giuCD3voN59S3vLENduXuOsmONWE-3D-cStTX2WSnvoJKtKQ6SdlQgB69Fsvgr2V7phPaWy7TO4nutkSQf_ICrbvRmByHGZWr_Jn0/s1600-h/088%25255B4%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="taking carpet off stairs" border="0" height="599" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUAHmjvnIiLJS8GuBpFK2EqUuTq_tWhjQVWlg9qzGXw4Qtkh9LxpNeqRSp5agLInn9VZ0-qXkLv1Lr5x84hGT6-8qJzQ36hlAOdQ_pavCm90FdDyV6-nEsXxnBNVU_I8Pz5j1FQMM2gGE/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="taking carpet off stairs" width="450" /></a></p> <p>I started sanding but then my late father-in-law stepped in with his heavy duty equipment – they got all the overspray off the steps for me so I could start staining and painting. </p> <p>I still say <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/02/my-biggest-diy-project-stairs.html">this transformation</a> is one of the biggest in our house, and I only spent $50 total: </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisULNNk7EnQodDm8Udr-k3Nhl3pwIOQM8nV0l37z2R9O-QAZJpjgprN6zO9mRzn-32YweubEFd3HQn9Qx9Sp6L3UAxdpGyGysoHQ7MqbOQNISm4IKKHprmYkbcnR5e7GB8L1YBj8Kz-74/s1600-h/015_thumb%25255B3%25255D%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="dark treads light risers stairs" border="0" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jncrilNYIiUgzU0xwRFzpqFse2GkSjrbTg47m-cRpzMWB8vj4MUjakCHamCY9pgyY046H0oHfWngh2BHtQyCxhm_kD23QOf-MVm4X2p8_xesQksu2mVjavpJ48_LFzRmtoCgQbmNiSc/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="dark treads light risers stairs" width="290" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDPbDrC2NdzT_OHcWFADajtBqe6Wj0EhSzulGqZShggizPRCggBFmw_zsbz6J05O6jBy8W-wYemowHffM9iTF32401ZF_Cz7PrfV7Aet0l7JvOR0KIH1bMlyylZY2gWcIWtrSnQtrGak/s1600-h/054_thumb%25255B8%25255D%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="dark treads light risers stairs" border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qBDJNs5YdjIa9hmiefHWMhhkmxu6aUWnlfr-RKAZ3NuziVLT9acdWxdDiJwBCPtUASnD-yIQfrPlXnQceIuhGswFA_yBbZBWPYN8JfV_SYPTCr6cBRNj6zKidfUugmXFL-H1jzPbEK8/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="dark treads light risers stairs" width="290" /></a> </p> <p>I still LOVE having the memory of my father-in-law working on this too. It’s like we’ll have a part of him in our house forever – he worked SO hard to help out. </p> <p>You can see that I painted the wall below the handrail while I was painting the risers. Later on I finished that part off by <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/08/staircase-is-done-again.html">adding trim</a>:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBwP3j2w4vs9tGGxrzmWPdcuo-IrUMFb4Buli0anrI_eThTQRPZ-oiq6hKtW7TJt0MDyCNK0r1pdLquTx3Oi-mnFgSovum2qCKw0Hdi7D9TEfg9n_aIAoS294mrHX1ZrGp-PwnoR174CM/s1600-h/074_thumb%25255B3%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="dark treads light risers stairs" border="0" height="665" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDP2YM_NLok8WDmvafE9y6qv7DJ6m1DJ2Gu6glBR-o415x83ggIxeiQPVGNJkirZKdVB7bL4FSv1v7s0MVf-ZxcHnlCPK6GkNqihEEzKmxJ5GVxJMpGXEHuAYcocRW99ciQUQ_BcARflU/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="dark treads light risers stairs" width="500" /></a></p> <p>And then I made a simple change that made a big difference – <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/10/falling-up-stairs.html">painting the handrail</a>: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCY8pfeBIu-C-Aa8RvD-pAeeYSlCKtfICmFaEoc_11Bb3vzQnOqlvAfF6J0mbv_4U5OgKr_1E39wmn07N3eu5buxmbucpEuTGcB_az_Me4QFZUGnsZWGg5rtm823loz2Bjins05baz-F0/s1600-h/IMG_0555_thumb%25255B2%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="fall decorating stairs martha stewart mice thriftydecorchick.com" border="0" height="735" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tFJH3x6YPdOicClU-hh97EuuOw8_JvJG7myMFh2yrrmZJGi8qvptA4T7v3lZlZxHofam5HxamzLfYd4wMsNYHz72JWYRTylmJcFW-QF4MxcKZ7ivThKKkga3xaZKJPgOBJjnxH8Hg_4/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="fall decorating stairs martha stewart mice thriftydecorchick.com" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Isn’t that crazy? I couldn’t believe how much that little change kind of tied it all together! </p> <p>And I still don’t know if those mice are coming back this fall. Maybe with time I will forget. Or not. :)</p> <p>We said <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/07/pink-walls-begone.html">goodbye to the pink(ish) walls</a> last year and I haven't’ missed them one bit. Then I added my <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/07/knockoff-sunburst-mirror.html">DIY sunburst mirrors</a> to the big wall in the staircase: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1mg-_2jG-DdHYctX6uHgGFAqtMSyWvk84sJ75QinLiyDtmQem8yy6b3zxJ1ABhyEWDzVRmdV8VDk9ubt9nRkZPuW5sWqhV1QNX1Yk9TAqulJC9kcHWWKBEc081tJG73i4j6lFZEAYl4/s1600-h/pic-7%25255B13%25255D.png"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="dark treads light risers stairs" border="0" height="758" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84KtrRYo5zebFxKRLLCSzwBsSz-RxyZylzw2W2Ywo53pHm5p25GRnOiDtPigSO0esPejT6Ik8tIOGd0GIe8fnfyqipsSTAwuepbuBKtKey31Eom4gZySSef3JxU1-lfDJM5mZxJKKuFM/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="dark treads light risers stairs" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Getting rid of that dark ceiling in the dining room made a HUGE difference too. (Filing that one away into “what was I thinking?”) </p> <p>But I felt like it was looking kind of blah – I loved it, but I’m craving some color here lately. </p> <p>I recently added just a bit with the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/02/threshold-in-foyer.html">little changes I made to the foyer</a> and I think it already makes a difference: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuANz5oZ5bIvih9IjFP8EU_PphiEiX91CPLM_XK3N_x4WJVGq2L03w94Ywcwp7kgvo7zU0ji8dXP-4rMvnkFSohga0YiTuImgC3yPUOSBnb0pfQ0IT9ez50q3__DZsTKFuhCdHyAbfrKk/s1600-h/IMG_5423%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="dark treads light risers stairs" border="0" height="748" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IjomDQy_BYmdt87Yqw4aIHoLkIsQz3gtiI5n_cCZ3bI4o6CBMIrM7nDQ6YOpVU-fNlmHlAqSu-wJr__fAxjXa5uzrYuDlIUjXGNqwlTaJxTq0pdr3FfmF4DB4rIreqmpsz611gMmkMk/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="dark treads light risers stairs" width="500" /></a></p> <p>But I still want more. (We want more! We want more! Name that commercial.) I had to take down the “best things in life” saying on the gallery wall when we painted, so there’s an empty spot needing filled still (almost a year later…this is how I roll) I think I’ll just add another frame, but I’m wondering if I should paint the frames? Just a little color? I don’t know. It will come to me if I sit on it (<em>forever</em>). </p> <p>And soon I’m having the treads sanded down and I’m going to stain them all the color of our hardwoods (Jacobean stain) so they match. Right now they are a reddish tone and the fact that they don’t match is starting to bug me.</p> <p>It’s been a long process, one that was harder than I thought it would be, but it has made SUCH a huge difference in our house! The before, a few years ago:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTuUeTlpINcNIYEbXuQSO6PwlpDoI-KLzLGGsSUA91l2cQxWqzt8c5mW-r4xDtnpos9JZ_gKP4vMA3fY2VV3pLOcedJnOluUhwnyyHWwIG4R7r82mjSL0EJYASmKLi6ltdIFI9s48Dvxk/s1600-h/017_thumb%25255B2%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETdA-ZTzCIGJ1eI6CTAmpr8NKvy0v8Spe8XkTL1hogTwvOWm-tNx5XIf6bgevQAhaea0oiVfP4MRJSik_YSiwzoiD4RHqKWIjoOd1EEpFx-OlK760_oArFpMHmDncTShhH2VLpCBHjhI/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="400" /></a> And today! </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bbCK0t84NwHOYjgQEN5M0R0qati1mNezSm6VCEYHlOkbilrG_5gXZkg7Lb_TaUIku9Krj4H7KZw9cJvQ2ELX9qRLGnce6zO2hw4JGK3ZeHzffCYrjfZFDJDVrF62JqlM2dwXHcNKpx8/s1600-h/IMG_5425%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="analytical gray sherwin williams" border="0" height="751" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsZnZ0vadXQJRRrp0Osh85UXvXd6IMki3C7WyDy3XySh9dVhxxiHOrHuX0AAoDVaNCTybxBrnFcmCi7qgmiCh4IUCF6Qsw6JZts_kcChSZ_Abutv5-sp-cXVlnsBioHip2m8mL4xEJ5U/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="analytical gray sherwin williams" width="500" /></a>And I <em>still</em> stand by my thought that hardwood stairs are less slippery than carpeted ones. I’m <strong>really</strong> good at falling down stairs and so far so good…knock on wood. ;)</p> <p>Have you torn the carpet off your stairs or out of a room? I thought about it for months (years) and one day just started ripping – scary but so worth it in the end! </p>

The days of our stairs

First up, my friend Cassie over at Hi Sugarplum did a FUN series while she gallivants around Italy (I’m not jealous or anything). You can ch...

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New kitchen nook, complete!

<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgas7nsW1OhUqiVLVeCil7mpPWulybW2WKkRJw8MYnqQB_c4rG30Ec5a9_kxRvU8MqcQRV0dBJPjrgQToM46t2qtxW5ZNqf18KRglHRCme8prj_P5NGHaTXQTrN1XkQpwrgBmPoWL6rAHM/s1600-h/IMG_5399%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="ranunculus flower" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYrXxXfxlhs0IM5S8R0_7JhVqzME20c_yqj0RNunX49g5ezFuP7_RRa6txa63zTAW5dEkoj_qt7W72J1Xp0xxW3tFqGrJlcKjQrk3aeJTKvk6DAZTwrE8qcm2UwA3hrWKOBAlWrcYA4w/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="ranunculus flower" width="400" /></a></p> <p>Hello there! I’m back! Last week was crazy – I flew across the country to Salt Lake City to speak at the SNAP! Conference and then hurried home after my session (I was there for about 36 hours) to get home in time for an event honoring my hubs Friday morning. </p> <p>And then…it was cancelled. You gotta be kidding me. </p> <p>We had SO much rain last week and the school had flooding so it was postponed. I was glad to be back home though, so all was OK in the end. </p> <p>I’m back with the full picture of how the kitchen nook turned out. I first showed you how I transformed an IKEA table into a farmhouse table <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/04/ikea-table-turned-farmhouse-table.html">here</a>. Thanks SO much for all the lovely comments by the way! They make my day!</p> <p>Well, the next phase was new chairs. We have had the black chairs in there (from Garden Ridge) for about seven years now – they’ve held up OK. A few scratches but mostly OK. But the thing that bothers me about them is that the legs become loose ALL the dang time. I am tightening the bolts on them at least once a week. </p> <p>I had fallen in love with a different chair too – and for months I was dreamin’ about it:</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXSqLiE_cOHT6Bjz1QPHC-OVvRg-chspH6-GwsE6okQFaZMQxfCVU1D1-7cKit1dmFl0fM7oeCsVunbd-anYekRffOU-N5-DAbsiGipDAIwRYRNUUNXMezZF025cLayNUT-YTyOff1tc/s1600-h/WS%252520chair.jpg"><img alt="Willliams Sonoma chair" border="0" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2jCSE5wi6uvmx8-Dlf_Jch5Ot7IUAKa6ufBM4dQj2nG9Pp8JIW8XWzMSSq4XrPG9RP5BeOl0RDGCr-1CC3MwcjZsQXOS98xH8tqxdqcqq2WfzyFHE80_Mc1ml-mJP3hGYAVSpVyKoT8/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Willliams Sonoma chair" width="290" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-8GcKDjTQquxCpDwu4Bh7WR2nV4BQjhfYnZB-wrmZhov7vdHr_5R1W9HzRZ5jPgmIuzA1rQKc7IWD9BTS6VmcVhioGLwzcVjn7NxvM7oY9qjZPPG9jeqOoUzxDbbiHQEjdNZeTQ_L9g/s1600-h/30CADENCH3_1%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img alt="arhaus x chair" border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbj8yEB8HrxUYv1SA9MzhbaEsE94WzEunVaGcp_GLTZLoyv_TISIm_iBUD9L2nUInhuRPzVuCBqfFo2xwSBykI9FpE4N1gK_nDaGltW8qVs4GH1iDWTs0uWRKCzL9rjrtg_XZYJMyxKkU/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="arhaus x chair" width="290" /></a> </p> <p align="center">(<a href="http://www.arhaus.com" rel="nofollow">1</a>/<a href="http://www.williams-sonoma.com" rel="nofollow">2</a> sources) </p> <p align="left">I ADORE these x-backed chairs. The pretty curves, the warm wood. LOVE. But these were way more than I wanted to spend. (One was $150, the other $200.) </p> <p align="left">So I watched for months and stalked Home Goods and never found anything. And then it hit me to check out World Market. Yes, again. I love that place: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7dV-wC-MvgyHjgQienzAkD6dU5JDR7HQiR_obn_wQj-g6MPfcBo4Sg_mqJfHj7-lwel1ZJfQywCwqjjf8SYMxfJ_w8EJbYL4D5u7Q8-eU05gKAubhWHDC0QfzSpUJEhI68lgdcpJ-m4M/s1600-h/IMG_5385%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="x back chair, world market" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5hE59JWUClBmHdLhXd2DE2mb0x47660v5bJLmvzN3EZX-qhgHTp55Sr9t-N0yKSsNKDCyyVN-KUV9I9Rd_l7qgQ9ynrLn-cyaMTHTRFruXg2L39v7gFDB_QB8tL8QNpJdjdbeaFGlxE/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="x back chair, world market" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I got them on sale so they were wayyyy cheaper than the other two versions and I only got two because I had a plan for the other side of the table. </p> <p>Many of you guessed it – a bench. I mean, it’s practically begging for it, right? We’ve had one for years that I used to use at the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/03/before-and-after-party-kitchen-nook.html">round table we had in here</a>. It’s been sitting in our mud room for a while now, so I pulled it out, primed it, then gave it a fun color: </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jxq-S0Q8YcSG18uMMFlbNQXCRWMv920Fj_E_g0YBovBN8-Ltw7HdYOXfHKK_iTD_ruRqnPf1VnMdD81hNO84VopIAHOFLRjDypC65KiOLKmhceL1NjYhTtOZyCm5a_hsoX6nkOwJIVw/s1600-h/photo%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="spray painting a bench" border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LkP6073oqXXbuYbWCqVdIgZtrjn9F-OrbTeNaed5dgWmUF52HM51HSjnnXLPDoO9ZzISYJSJ23A1qNNqQTdqArgxMvqibU1GCiiV_TXvdohn_SVYSEkdAXhPWgKc2eZ8FZEow8TK9Hk/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="spray painting a bench" width="290" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-CLDSq8L0gypUxL_olH1yv4i0094c7w_GnLKMK8E7FiF6Pb_y2kshOzH_aWJkpxCS9SwWihEiTgww6j8xzDivQd3BCCh4VrH-anZRQ0D38bs2WC-f2VvMQxJYnDnfbC56mlAH_MylOM/s1600-h/IMG_5392%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="bench at table" border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68yCEJdzkFHUKQBxSm7rrDCDQUw78HJH5gi5yCWPjhQj-HVGOJzS9RvU56Bz7JXnQjgOD-m_wTZ0trf7HnFktLkwlxwKBDinT9_RvYtICXFOjLeLpY-OG3HPNFHd-Zx4MPEKMncGu_u4/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="bench at table" width="290" /></a> </p> <p>That color is apple green by Valspar by the way –- I was trying to use a color I had on hand. It was brighter than I first wanted. When I asked hubby what he thought he mentioned how well it went with the boxwood wreath on the pantry door, the island chairs, the flowers on the table…the man is good: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhhTozhEr8xmMKdjwYkOQuuQ_yb4Gg1xBclgmHoy6_GbSpZLfXJvkyrXcygirx1_P7PKsYLYG7uoZLs5P1Fh8DIrQ7lK-KXLXIkL5V3-YgaaoasHFPeiy-ZJB67BuLP3OxHscMY4caj4/s1600-h/IMG_5393%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="ikea table turned farmhouse table" border="0" height="751" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifOVQWB6xQkBCfqNQTFf-j11WPClBNYXegbqVLaQbeK48FFk-7zXqfcEmEzceGnxHi9Z5UtacZOR5zbhYxm4AWmBNCOsz6ksOic4Od8ZPrpealLajgOpbJPpulpeQq8B0gO_UXKGSzZQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="ikea table turned farmhouse table" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I love the pop of color – this nook has had <strong>no</strong> color for so long, I’m happy to bring some in. And the best part about spray paint – it will take me 15 minutes to change it up if I ever want to. </p> <p>Someday when the budget allows (and they are on sale again) I’ll pick up a couple more of those chairs to have for when we need more seating. For now this set up works great for just us. </p> <p>The last change to this space was a new light, also from World Market. I had been eyeing it for months but was afraid I wouldn’t like the <a href="http://www.worldmarket.com/product/grey-vintage-chandelier.do?camp=ppc%3AGooglePLA%3Anone%3A40004186819adwords_groupingPendant_Lighting&device=c&network=g&matchtype=&gclid=CJH1843G3rYCFaYWMgodIH4Aww" rel="nofollow">leafy things</a> on it: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbdRWE2YmRkwO9F3hWHn1OrMrPgTj7DJdS9mv4dxgM1YQLgHm0yXB_HsidFk_OrVEVXSjapH7OA6PSzq-BU4-0s2R7SavGQ_MnXoFC1DAgFlaPXTH_zmNPrQQf9yDvj7fKBuWTBVTnwk/s1600-h/IMG_5402%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="gray antique chandelier" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvAiWDvAdjwSOqWapq0ZmIGpjyJ3J7ZcacQOerIWGfLvNhmK3CNwzoZVlnR4Iy5bBELwitUkM0j8vdChWksrczaaGen_5Ywc3b3rM_0Im8eAzQxsbtbV9oHFiDHLI1d4FEzRK8YZPQwk/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="gray antique chandelier" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I went to see it in the store and it was GORGEOUS. </p> <p>I’ve changed the light over this table at least five times now – the rest of the lights in our house have never been changed or replaced once. This spot…I don’t know what it is. </p> <p>But I finally feel like this is the perfect combo – the size and look of the table and the pretty chandelier – it works now. I promise not to change it out again for at least a year. ;) I have a plan for our other light that was there – once I can find someone to climb 20 feet to install it. (Not it!)</p> <p>Of course all of these changes happened over the course of a couple months – and I did my research on everything for six months to a year beforehand. (YES, I take forever.) Once I decided what I wanted I picked up different pieces as the budget allowed. </p> <p>I’m SO thrilled to have a big table to use again. And yes, to decorate: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7ANRhlBI2B_Nj_orr6yOVXJBX_EMoWvnYUArCFNoh568-o6EpLHhX9LLLR5iZ0GVWKg8JkOKvwVm3aQ1YaocB5H5fFd6gyGALF6Q_GcI99TLXNEbSlJVZly1WbBe8d80fBP_A04tU64/s1600-h/IMG_5397%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="ikea table turned farmhouse table" border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5FKxQvmKv6EjbAtkzSK00gTfrd1mQcdl8zBaQtHg00K6aaQAd6UYjQ6OeSiZeb3uQJMIabjzsGXLTcS9RNw4HNEy0VDgdziQMZ_ZNAMiBjnk2-SXcSh0WXqsfBi2tb0foMycL6pGVkk/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="ikea table turned farmhouse table" width="550" /></a></p> <p>I may have to do a spring tablescape just to celebrate. And can I just mention I am OBSESSED with ranunculus. I love these flowers! </p> <p>Someday I’ll learn how to properly take pictures so the light streaming in the windows does not blind us: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEA5ZfylXDIwWrPYAhW26fROUech_G-XPsEN-m4eDcRNzfTSgPwWa9S3pm7_fwv-kuZWaucYqpp2uPKRKgFCbOiXTJtpaSxiDzjouqjrZXKVGgaNrx02873_gcvdNQcxzuagHSnibG1M/s1600-h/IMG_5413%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="farmhouse table with bench thriftydecorchick.com" border="0" height="751" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6sKK5Cr4j3HsTT7gskUXeZEsVt_dTSbkyTab41JDF6ZjFnovKo83VCIzNd5Z_oUfdPfI8VDIODeBNcwg5rXQcGx4WJVeIVCUSv2qQQQIg5KLvJbmPk0vEFc5B5MMLNrBUflixEJkkgYI/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="farmhouse table with bench thriftydecorchick.com" width="500" /></a></p> <p>But today is not that day. ;) </p> <p>I ADORE these chairs – they are really sturdy and the wood that makes up the “X” is too – I tried out some that were really flimsy and <em>way </em>more expensive: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVB3t9rGSbTM9EPqwh2Klo6G1J4ECh-GR4ckbEeHcoF8fXN02SbM7qf7mL6GVlV0YmgVkEqP8ZLX6CvObpCgzuljePv1tb7ioJc11piGSlqtltH0Hn0daEf0qLYL76_dl3RU4stTCtE5w/s1600-h/IMG_5421%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="x-backed chairs world market" border="0" height="728" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gABtKSSBURsIE7CQW5M1zoAryHf3h-ya_iL-NxSGSVeJr6XjUHQ6d3SdurMvzLf4UJdnR8fQhNl0YaTd_5b6OpS4OsoYHvdYf0f-cyYXZMyjlCUxy4pu8H8ut8_Lxm5RQUsz2Bk-WQ0/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="x-backed chairs world market" width="515" /></a></p> <p>I especially love this spot with the light on a dimmer in the evening: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZAP6d8KB0dip92y72yVFrft8hbp5mFrdnAljU5kWie-O5wbgMFEoT9YI1BZ2kWXVglLfsmzU2x_99bcPvRVXPe1IhgHoxHH6glux53w3uOqd2DjLr2NmyXpGcEhM2K9KfMNrUcXDZqE/s1600-h/IMG_5366%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img alt="farmhouse table with bench thriftydecorchick.com" border="0" height="751" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib85ZSUS7SB7Bbf1mGVMP34RoQmqCTMv4DhmKouPCrCbtLeSCYITuqgH60ZW2rrF9bgXFMtutHaUdfixnV06W4tnCyBMwaQCnNIwRDalwu81uNAVymVXFmp9qHsuPMPLQygbhiSQbhpig/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="farmhouse table with bench thriftydecorchick.com" width="500" /></a></p> <p>It’s just so much more open and bright now! I cannot even believe the difference, I really can’t. </p> <p>We all love this table – the size and shape just works so much better for this space. It’s so much easier to spread out on the computer, for homework – all that stuff too: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvr1tiN9FRDxzCbHfyvMXexvDtUYzIiurcBOTRMpZQ_EzWuXfy6ypu4Rv4IRZ0hRB2KcGaYFRGDesuHQJty04B3XdPfDPE_Sdu2PU66BuCnssOq3zAvth4tJlqA4evjBgj2uZmMfoj6E/s1600-h/IMG_5416%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="farmhouse table with bench thriftydecorchick.com" border="0" height="751" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxU_jbksJnyw_mMAjnmUhHRHwwZ2u6C3zCaHQmt2wvj60CX_A_UwjqItK4YkNl8LDKxsNfWANcZ1YPMoTi1-rn87yrYSIELhpCwKka1c31ckTSxLnnvH98dl6bncVSylMpWockbgBWac/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="farmhouse table with bench thriftydecorchick.com" width="500" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>The round table felt so cramped in comparison.</p> <p>And now that this spot is transformed, the budget is frozen for a while. This was happening while I took pictures this morning: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRgxZbhexmwUG7GdphlusOw5KVu_eT_igUnyb_2NsO6yfzK_Lx_rhevDQ_j08v4kE6Wi7CxInnJh3eHrBpqzJ_zt3MQ5-KYFRe4NJ0iDVnKIKJFLG2aatdm0W-__sVwocyCvLczc96ts/s1600-h/photo2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="water hates me" border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETZSAoaXxuuX3sQm3Wnnz09IPBZsK5Yl32Vc1nRymfjCUa6aC5usVa9aTiL-Yi8fjDZIhpSTpwUUpLBiuEIn7LmaWQk0Wow2ggDaLvfHr6P4Tjer9U894k-aD3_QIrYtUHM9kpnQ4nLk/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="water hates me" width="400" /></a></p> <p>More water issues. The disposal stopped working and (gross) water was <strong>POURING</strong> out of the disposal. Didn’t know that could happen? Me either. Fantastic! </p> <p>There are a few more changes coming to the little kitchen nook – and many more coming in the kitchen (someday). But for now I have a pretty table that I love. :) </p> <p> </p> <p>**For more info on the chalkboard wall, go <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/12/chalkboard-art-wall.html">here</a>. <br />**For more on the pantry (with the glass door), go <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/02/no-more-wire-shelves-pantry-redo.html">here</a>. <br />**And to find out how NOT to paint your glass atrium door, go <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/06/when-diy-goes-oh-so-wrong.html">here</a>. </p>

New kitchen nook, complete!

Hello there! I’m back! Last week was crazy – I flew across the country to Salt Lake City to speak at the SNAP! Conference and then hurried...

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Got Five Minutes?

<div align="center"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbtR8x59T5tkWPd_asJl7zeUhKpWa9B_Z66XT5zGBl80LOzMhwxP9YtlHDYEMYZvzKbzokZs0oLRzkHJWg4CDCq-M7NIbOhNsYeR_njG0TyT_gL1QV3Ax5f6Kd-WsRq_7-9f5EQKB-I4/s1600/april+22+2013+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbtR8x59T5tkWPd_asJl7zeUhKpWa9B_Z66XT5zGBl80LOzMhwxP9YtlHDYEMYZvzKbzokZs0oLRzkHJWg4CDCq-M7NIbOhNsYeR_njG0TyT_gL1QV3Ax5f6Kd-WsRq_7-9f5EQKB-I4/s320/april+22+2013+003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div>Hello there! It's another beautiful day here - cool, but sunny. I just put a pot of pansies on my front porch (thanks Mom!), and I feel like it's really here. Flowers and <em>GREEN</em> grass are just around the corner! <br /><br />One of my favorite Spring time things to do is force forsythia into bloom, but I (just) realized I don't have a forsythia bush at our new home! Bummer! Thanks to my sister, who has a whole slew of forsythia lining her driveway, fear not! I just filled the trunk of my car with branches. When I got home, I put the long, lanky branches into a vase of water. <br /><br />They look like H-E-double toothpicks to begin with, but within a couple of days, they'll be a mass of bright yellow blooms! Here they are looking less than beautiful, but give me a few days and I'll post what they look like in full force. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiScdfaAIkdmvF1XcOWMU4Pjdo34W1xE5Xnjy48DWzhemzhDSxKidIPU5PFFYvfoXG4_gQEbblGFI4WodMOYpzf-3ZFuj3zK7U_LQ5dIatqb9YPuOlxjErGmZBg6-Dax3axDGWGZUxUPy8/s1600/april+22+2013+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiScdfaAIkdmvF1XcOWMU4Pjdo34W1xE5Xnjy48DWzhemzhDSxKidIPU5PFFYvfoXG4_gQEbblGFI4WodMOYpzf-3ZFuj3zK7U_LQ5dIatqb9YPuOlxjErGmZBg6-Dax3axDGWGZUxUPy8/s320/april+22+2013+032.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br />While I was at my sisters, I snapped this picture of their woods - how sweet is it with the daffs popping up all through the woods? <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBH890mp-slxoaVA8xnF-wdkVXZABjNJpxJ_GHmDuISAJAlGtZf9p6sws0B9TupvPczwGaYaqCPhEZsRymKGK31z7-qDb34bw1JXC2nAwfFG2FhiQcbY1-aNG3D0retEt6QvC1i9L6NTo/s1600/april+22+2013+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBH890mp-slxoaVA8xnF-wdkVXZABjNJpxJ_GHmDuISAJAlGtZf9p6sws0B9TupvPczwGaYaqCPhEZsRymKGK31z7-qDb34bw1JXC2nAwfFG2FhiQcbY1-aNG3D0retEt6QvC1i9L6NTo/s320/april+22+2013+025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />It was beautiful! <br /><br />I got home and had a little time to myself, so I did a couple of <span style="font-size: xx-small;">tiny </span><span style="font-size: small;">projects.  I looove finding time to whip up something decorative or crafty. 5 minutes works for me! </span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">We have an old step stool, that my sister and I had as kids, that now my lil man uses to brush his teeth.  The wear and tear on the stool is genuine - no sanding involved - so I just stenciled his name. If I have to trip over it every day, it may as well look cute! </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJusdwPhehXU3Z3E9PEZ1PLm437tKSE904waF4OhJyb8UZ-19lrUtMFxAt5-ZkNmUpF1ug9igzBW-DfQXTUIu66xbYEkTabzfTRB58eE1UlU9cV00MNqgXTI8y3YClRfkPTYE6q28DrN4/s1600/april+22+2013+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJusdwPhehXU3Z3E9PEZ1PLm437tKSE904waF4OhJyb8UZ-19lrUtMFxAt5-ZkNmUpF1ug9igzBW-DfQXTUIu66xbYEkTabzfTRB58eE1UlU9cV00MNqgXTI8y3YClRfkPTYE6q28DrN4/s320/april+22+2013+023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />While I had the stencil stuff out, I stenciled a K onto a piece of scrapbook paper, framed it, and hung it in our little half-bath. I framed two other pieces of the paper and hung them too. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbtR8x59T5tkWPd_asJl7zeUhKpWa9B_Z66XT5zGBl80LOzMhwxP9YtlHDYEMYZvzKbzokZs0oLRzkHJWg4CDCq-M7NIbOhNsYeR_njG0TyT_gL1QV3Ax5f6Kd-WsRq_7-9f5EQKB-I4/s1600/april+22+2013+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbtR8x59T5tkWPd_asJl7zeUhKpWa9B_Z66XT5zGBl80LOzMhwxP9YtlHDYEMYZvzKbzokZs0oLRzkHJWg4CDCq-M7NIbOhNsYeR_njG0TyT_gL1QV3Ax5f6Kd-WsRq_7-9f5EQKB-I4/s320/april+22+2013+003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />They're just 12"x12" frames, but they take up quite a bit of wall space once grouped together. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqEe4oAyXW1a1A23AROptLZXZiSwsoRoonefONScs-vWkAtHU1oHcrbnJUw7cho9NgZcLqvRR30EcAa72xGOoyLOrOa6wzTo_I2DdBKn49-1ZfFsuVCE4sRd1XTpp8LsTTJeEYeOlpRA/s1600/april+22+2013+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqEe4oAyXW1a1A23AROptLZXZiSwsoRoonefONScs-vWkAtHU1oHcrbnJUw7cho9NgZcLqvRR30EcAa72xGOoyLOrOa6wzTo_I2DdBKn49-1ZfFsuVCE4sRd1XTpp8LsTTJeEYeOlpRA/s320/april+22+2013+005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Over the past few months, there were a few inexpensive, easy projects I did in under an hour. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love this little recipe frame. I printed up two recipes on some brown packing paper, and staple gun in hand, I went to work.  I just measured the frames and the ribbon, and stapled the ribbon right to the back of the frames.  I left about 3" at the top and bottom. To hang, I used Velcro! It hangs by my pantry. And since the recipes are family favorites, I love seeing them everyday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Er1U1mwKu3pdPun2N16a93gDyGwZOHsMEGqE8Zg08zUMX5Xh1TbbkttGFOXaceMUoMl-AgYgxoXWcIP8EjzKGL0xOh051cbcR31UFi1azGfeISiPbreUR2pkmh_5kPhu44yX9NSZ84A/s1600/april+22+2013+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Er1U1mwKu3pdPun2N16a93gDyGwZOHsMEGqE8Zg08zUMX5Xh1TbbkttGFOXaceMUoMl-AgYgxoXWcIP8EjzKGL0xOh051cbcR31UFi1azGfeISiPbreUR2pkmh_5kPhu44yX9NSZ84A/s320/april+22+2013+006.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br />The little man and I painted these little mirrors that have been kicking around for years. We just gave the mirror a coat of white paint, over some vinyl letters, let dry, and peeled off the letters. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRex1MG50B4-rLzSgC3zBQt8VtabNlx4iaChYRLQAFo0a-OpKs1ADFJqx7LGoe4h9_zSudlmvaCLJUEfnWMQzsnZGIUA_ZYziVyDs7jzqL6FH2ikdQeNXO6_LdZ_BCgpJ1YLOLhnZmJY/s1600/april+22+2013+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRex1MG50B4-rLzSgC3zBQt8VtabNlx4iaChYRLQAFo0a-OpKs1ADFJqx7LGoe4h9_zSudlmvaCLJUEfnWMQzsnZGIUA_ZYziVyDs7jzqL6FH2ikdQeNXO6_LdZ_BCgpJ1YLOLhnZmJY/s320/april+22+2013+007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />I love decals! I bought these from Amazon, for about $5 each, just followed the directions.  The first decal perfectly describes my family, and it makes me happy. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkBfJUWZuJuDukPp5eRwXll9iWK-d7vyqNaaAkwYcJiXRLVCbAFhkTAvkOE4cHM_Zs_CBhiw2YMLaIociYRD996L6xiaehXR-c18_m7cFGlXUk6ki9E_0Z90vuQnd8A9BWXp6U88wJfU/s1600/april+22+2013+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkBfJUWZuJuDukPp5eRwXll9iWK-d7vyqNaaAkwYcJiXRLVCbAFhkTAvkOE4cHM_Zs_CBhiw2YMLaIociYRD996L6xiaehXR-c18_m7cFGlXUk6ki9E_0Z90vuQnd8A9BWXp6U88wJfU/s320/april+22+2013+013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The second one, well, you know, I like to laugh. </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/AVvXsEhbH-3EyozCWwfyjVouuO61tBkeY0Nun0Bd1l6NRhrb3t7zYMxOZcH1LDGM0oa-wB68SZwmNBMlUaGy2vZQ41WgbWGS7Rp7MwZlOzpf2t1NU-cENWUFdRQ-2DShSk9OKuWUniAc3QowdQM/s1600/april+22+2013+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbH-3EyozCWwfyjVouuO61tBkeY0Nun0Bd1l6NRhrb3t7zYMxOZcH1LDGM0oa-wB68SZwmNBMlUaGy2vZQ41WgbWGS7Rp7MwZlOzpf2t1NU-cENWUFdRQ-2DShSk9OKuWUniAc3QowdQM/s320/april+22+2013+014.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: left;">For my utensils in the kitchen, this is a dollar store vase, filled with dried lentils. (My spices and herbs from a local Amish store, are just stacked and left by the oven, I like the colors - and why change the packaging when they look so pretty? </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQlfqFLnnm-Q8pwTPamTy1zZz0x66F6oeFMvRrEyMkt9ueLaaaf14-XmEcSQ6q3jAyTTZOmpMI_cWKGn30bocNLsNSdBHHsQ1LqyvX9iJlOFAJKD-HFAUWY9WMwT29xqSj9kBBec58zU/s1600/april+22+2013+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQlfqFLnnm-Q8pwTPamTy1zZz0x66F6oeFMvRrEyMkt9ueLaaaf14-XmEcSQ6q3jAyTTZOmpMI_cWKGn30bocNLsNSdBHHsQ1LqyvX9iJlOFAJKD-HFAUWY9WMwT29xqSj9kBBec58zU/s320/april+22+2013+011.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Two pretty napkins found at Pier 1, hung on a tension rod in over our kitchen sink, took about 3.7 seconds to "make".  </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvRs6lfzKG3bpDEnJZTLWTvWMUJeYXK7cJPchFrwnfzGsfu4-5pROE0Kh3q3_2h6HnLtEpToPizS02jYjmQiK8Iecj8EHxJ0UKAoyOZjjtJf1R4ugz-YA5XsoFAJqzAZY8x8UAAAevPU/s1600/april+22+2013+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvRs6lfzKG3bpDEnJZTLWTvWMUJeYXK7cJPchFrwnfzGsfu4-5pROE0Kh3q3_2h6HnLtEpToPizS02jYjmQiK8Iecj8EHxJ0UKAoyOZjjtJf1R4ugz-YA5XsoFAJqzAZY8x8UAAAevPU/s320/april+22+2013+019.JPG" width="264" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbH-3EyozCWwfyjVouuO61tBkeY0Nun0Bd1l6NRhrb3t7zYMxOZcH1LDGM0oa-wB68SZwmNBMlUaGy2vZQ41WgbWGS7Rp7MwZlOzpf2t1NU-cENWUFdRQ-2DShSk9OKuWUniAc3QowdQM/s1600/april+22+2013+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div> There are so many more! And so many more I want to do... What are some of your quick décor projects or ideas? I would love to hear them!<br /><br />Have a wonderful day! I'm off, rake in hand, to get some fresh air! <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJusdwPhehXU3Z3E9PEZ1PLm437tKSE904waF4OhJyb8UZ-19lrUtMFxAt5-ZkNmUpF1ug9igzBW-DfQXTUIu66xbYEkTabzfTRB58eE1UlU9cV00MNqgXTI8y3YClRfkPTYE6q28DrN4/s1600/april+22+2013+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Party Time:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tuesday</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/">Savvy Southern Style</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lovegrowswild.com/2013/04/time-to-sparkle-link-party-6.html#comment-form">Love Grows Wild</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/"> Coastal Charm</a></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.adventuresofadiymom.com/">Adventures of a DIY Mom</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://romanceonadime.com/take-it-on-tuesday/take-it-on-tuesday-tiot-blog-hop-76/">Take It On Tuesday</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ifitsnotbaroquedesignblog.blogspot.com/">If It's Not Baroque</a><br /><a href="http://www.notjustahousewife.net/2013/04/show-me-what-ya-got-116.html">Not Just a Housewife</a><br /><a href="http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/tuesdays-treasures-131/">My Uncommon Slice</a><a href="http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/tuesdays-treasures-131/"> of Suburbia</a><br /><br />Wednesday<br /><a href="http://weliketolearnaswego.blogspot.com/2013/04/what-i-learned-wednesday-53.html?showComment=1366810746854#c8570136592418367828">What I Learned Wednesday</a><br /><a href="http://www.greenwillowpond.com/">What We Accomplished Wednesday</a><br /><a href="http://thetrendytreehouse.blogspot.com/">Trendy Treehouse</a> <br /><a href="http://www.whitelightsonwednesday.com/2013/04/wednesday-whatsits-57/#comment-3860">Wednesday Whatsits</a><br /><a href="http://www.handymancraftywoman.com/2013/04/wicked-awesome-wednesday-107.html">Wicked Awesome Wednesday</a><br /><a href="http://thissillygirlslife.com/wp/2013/04/two-girls-and-a-party-linky-party-no-13/#comment-1366">Two Girls and a Party</a></div>

Got Five Minutes?

   Hello there! It's another beautiful day here - cool, but sunny. I just put a pot of pansies on my front porch (thanks Mom!), and I f...

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Got a Sharpie?

Hello there and Happy Saturday! It's that time of the week where I take a few minutes and make a list of the things I want to get done in the following week. Not that they WILL get done, it's just a wishful thinking list - with good intentions!<br /><br />I went to my Pinterest boards and looked at the pins I have been loving. Seems there are a lot of ideas out there for using Sharpie Markers. (The only thing I ever do with a sharpie is make sure it's hidden at the <em>BACK</em> of the drawer so the little man doesn't get his hands on one! I don't need permanent marker all over my counter tops or walls!) But it seems some people actually have used their sharpies for good use! <br /><br />Check out all of these ideas - and if you have any sharpie inspired DIY, please share! <br /><br />First of all, I <strong><em>love</em></strong> this lampshade which was given a super cool update with a Sharpie! Who would have thought - and who would have thought there was a blog all about things you can do with a sharpie! Check it out <a href="http://blog.sharpie.com/2008/11/light-up-a-room-with-sharpie/">HERE</a>. <br /><br /><a href="http://blog.sharpie.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/sharpie-lampshade-image.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-430" height="224" src="http://blog.sharpie.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/sharpie-lampshade-image-300x224.jpg" title="sharpie-lampshade-image" width="300" /></a><br /><br />All you need is an old lamp shade, a template, and a sharpie! Nice!<br /><br />Speaking of nice... This sign was made simply by printing out a verse and transferring it to a piece of wood, and then coloring in the letters with the sharpie. It doesn't get any easier! I have to try this! (For the tutorial go <a href="http://homespunhappenings-tammy.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/i-made-sign.html">here</a>.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2E3qMk4GHY-3PGWxL87CusvHoOv9xqTuc4zXeVXdEiCUW-FQoOgsjy2XjD_NSovE-3A7U03WfLxgDjHgmReqcY3YOOnlFjn05kipDBsKq5ntuhudfNZbGfp0uPRnvBkWK0jHJgq-ZxrmG/s1600/Our+bedroom+2012+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2E3qMk4GHY-3PGWxL87CusvHoOv9xqTuc4zXeVXdEiCUW-FQoOgsjy2XjD_NSovE-3A7U03WfLxgDjHgmReqcY3YOOnlFjn05kipDBsKq5ntuhudfNZbGfp0uPRnvBkWK0jHJgq-ZxrmG/s400/Our+bedroom+2012+036.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />I was at the dollar store this week, and they seem to have a huge selection of plain white boring ceramics - dinner plates, mugs, bowls. There are tons of pins using sharpies and white dinnerware. They are all so cute! <br /><br /><a href="http://www.thesweetestoccasion.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/DIY-Personalized-Dishware-07.jpg"><img alt="DIY Sharpie plate from The Sweetest Occasion" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-21331" height="399" scale="0" src="http://www.thesweetestoccasion.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/DIY-Personalized-Dishware-07.jpg" style="opacity: 0.7;" title="DIY Sharpie plate from The Sweetest Occasion" width="600" /></a><br /><br />In <a href="http://www.thesweetestoccasion.com/2012/07/diy-sharpie-dinnerware/">this tutorial</a>, you are shown how to make sure your chosen design won't wash off. <br /><br />I have burlap, I have sharpies.... Check <a href="http://thevirginiahouse.blogspot.com/2012/02/furniture-redos-before-after.html">this</a> out:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmqyixWK9Ev8jA6yyqAr9LfYml5z8_VTivvkfZj35ug7hNmRRtQZPU_-QwrPIvAhDZVrxahAPHPWPD0sREpYrq7mJeh8VqBkDcoceuB3SRjYEIkhyq1EsfXClBuwyJtAzl0X-BfilQu-9/s1600/chair+018e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_430870018="11" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmqyixWK9Ev8jA6yyqAr9LfYml5z8_VTivvkfZj35ug7hNmRRtQZPU_-QwrPIvAhDZVrxahAPHPWPD0sREpYrq7mJeh8VqBkDcoceuB3SRjYEIkhyq1EsfXClBuwyJtAzl0X-BfilQu-9/s640/chair+018e.jpg" width="427" /></a><br /><br />I don't have a chair to recover, but I like the idea of making something with the burlap. Maybe decorating a table runner, or framing our family name, or somethin'! <br /><br />And for the last sharpie idea I really, really, really want to do ... plain old ceramic drawer pulls (which are about $14 for a <a href="http://4001-wt%20(pack%20of%2010)%20round%20white%20ceramic%20cabinet%20or%20dresser%20knob/">4001-WT (Pack of 10) Round White Ceramic Cabinet or Dresser Knob </a> ), sharpie and your oven. <br /><img alt="" class="image pinImage" src="http://media-cache-ec2.pinimg.com/736x/7e/93/6a/7e936a2a0ed250e9d200fa969201fb99.jpg" style="height: 600px; margin: 0px auto; padding: 40px 0px; width: 600px;" /><br />(Note: I can't get a link to work for this photo - I apologize, but the instructions seem to be the same as above, 350f oven for 30 mins and let cool). <br /><br />SO I guess that's enough to get me started for next week. I will let you know how I get along with these sharpie projects. Have a great weekend and let me know what you are up to! <br /><br /><br /><br />

Got a Sharpie?

Hello there and Happy Saturday! It's that time of the week where I take a few minutes and make a list of the things I want to get done i...

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Must Have Tools

Hi there! <br /><br />I was thinking about the tools that I would like (cuz my birthday isn't <em>too far</em> away), and about the tools I use all the time, and I thought it would be fun to put together a list of my must-have tools. Some I use every day, some just once in a while - but I like owning them, rather than having to borrow them. (It doesn't count as borrowing if they're <em>technically</em> Big A's does it? Or my Dad's? Or the neighbors? Good.)<br /><br />Some of these tools I use for crafts/projects and some I use around the house for every day upkeep. <br /><br />SO, without further ado, here's MY list of must-haves (with links if you like, or find any of these things in all of the big package stores). <br /><br /><strong>Leatherman</strong>. I keep this in the kitchen drawer. It has just about anything you need to accomplish small tasks without having to lug out a heavy tool box.  A screwdriver, can opener, pliers, little scissors, jack knife, mini-saw, even a beer opener! These are invaluable for the home and for travel - I take mine camping. They also make great gifts! <br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fymoho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0002H49BM&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div><br /><br /><strong>Cordless Drill.</strong> Between the two of us, Big A and I probably use this every week. If you have a home, you'll need it to hang curtains, shelving,  or to put most anything together. Try to get one with a decent sized battery because there's nothing worse than running out of juice mid-project! <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fymoho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000X1TYO4&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div><br /><strong>Portable Light.</strong> We have a couple of portable lights, but I like the short type so that they fit on a table top.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fymoho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0006OG8MY&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div><br /><br /><strong>Staple Gun/Glue Gun. </strong>Both are very inexpensive, and I use mine every week, if not every day. Actually I have several of each.  <br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009XTPAO/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0009XTPAO&linkCode=as2&tag=fymoho-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0009XTPAO&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=fymoho-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=fymoho-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0009XTPAO" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><br /><strong>Spray Paint Adaptor. </strong>Cheap, so get one! Trust me hand cramps are not necessary.  Get one of these and make spray painting a whole lot easier! <img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=fymoho-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0002YP7SO" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002YP7SO/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0002YP7SO&linkCode=as2&tag=fymoho-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0002YP7SO&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=fymoho-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=fymoho-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0002YP7SO" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><br /><strong>Saw Horses</strong>. I have metal saw horses that fold up and have a carrying handle. Throw on a piece of ply wood, and it's the perfect work surface for outside, or for an extra work surface anywhere. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fymoho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B004UOG4KM&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div><br /><strong>General tool box.</strong> Big A has tool boxes as tall as me, but all I really need is a small, general use toolbox. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fymoho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000UHMITE&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div><br />There are a lot of other handy tools you could invest in, but these are truly on my daily rotation. And here's a list of general tools you might want to keep on hand: <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Utility knife</div><div style="text-align: center;">Paint brushes/sponges</div><div style="text-align: center;">Tarps/drop clothes</div><div style="text-align: center;">Different length levels</div><div style="text-align: center;">Tape measures</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wood Glue</div><div style="text-align: center;">Paint buckets</div><div style="text-align: center;">Eye protection</div><div style="text-align: center;">Gloves</div><br /><em>WHAT WOULD YOU ADD TO MY LIST???</em><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Now, if you're working with the real big girl/boy tools, that's a whole other list of must-haves. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">But let me talk to Big A before I finish that list!)</span></div>

Must Have Tools

Hi there! I was thinking about the tools that I would like (cuz my birthday isn't too far away), and about the tools I use all the time...

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DIY craftsman door trim

<p>Hey there! I’m off at the SNAP Conference today and flying home tonight – whirlwind trip I tell ya! It’s funny --  the older I get the harder it is for me to leave home. I’m such a homebody in my old age. ;) </p> <p>Anyway, earlier this week I made teensy bit of progress on the powder room. Don’t get too excited, it’s nothing major. But still…progress. Let’s just enjoy little bits, eh?</p> <p>It was actually not even a project I had planned on doing, but before I <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/03/planking-wall-not-me.html">installed the planks</a> along the wall near the door I thought I would at least try it out. </p> <p>I figured it was as good a time as any (well, really the ONLY time – after the planks are installed it probably couldn’t have happened) to try and replace the door trim. </p> <p>I’ve been dreaming for YEARS about replacing our thin builder door casing to something like this: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8b8PhGH7RWAEZzCgAI4g7DtRk2MnH353xSw63s8uB1WSSTFKbnkMJiyjLX_WFG1WVZy1tjmHmcP9nhalk4hIJA68ZnXbjJf8HYGc1dLWEnqr5Jx3Dnublb6CIKIR244fjOqXcvuxuBc/s1600-h/FH03NOV_CRATRM_03%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY craftsman door trim" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitKonpOwracaRX_gAmI4yboLUBvd0s3Zc6N-O5h07ROEvzpn5ypMkYErUHcKXtCw4fHifzqZ2g8Mzwp1devodQ9DjerfmshdCxv4s3a33B86lP_2s6ESeusHRES0h39Hf4WKBjaaKhBSw/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DIY craftsman door trim" width="300" /></a></p> <p align="center">(<a href="http://www.familyhandyman.com">source</a>)</p> <p>I’ve seen this same look with crown at the top, but this simpler version has always appealed to me. (In white of course.) </p> <p>The only reason I haven’t attempted it by now is my fear of removing the trim in our house – it’s IMPOSSIBLE. Seriously – I removed the baseboards in one room something like six years ago and it still has me afraid to this day. It was SO. dang. hard. to get them off. </p> <p>I had our contractor guys take them off in the powder room so the hardwoods could go down and even they commented on how tough it was. </p> <p>Told you. I’m no wus. It’s hard. :)</p> <p>So anyway, I’ve always assumed the door trim was the same supersonic stuff. But I got a wild hair the other night and decided to try removing it. I took a razor and cut along where the trim met up with the door frame (along the caulk) and then did the same on the caulk line by the wall. </p> <p>I used my crow bar to get under the trim and starting working at it and <em>I'LL BE</em> – it was coming off! I couldn’t believe it!: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEV0H38nFrt5lxS3dRyBq-uNcEEHlm_53fQY-H5i3iUmaBCgoot7_0_hgkivm6q94Df8SLRsI9b-W23EQx9uEqpBZNPrFJ0SRAa-vB-pOCwwXjkx4NgjT9yZfIzUwqsoYRwejc4ehTK8Y/s1600-h/IMG_5354%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="removing door trim" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_rO46Rtw9qz79PsNEO1Q6Csxt5k675n-_yHoefz9Kzt7g6HXLgLISiDbWWBPUaJ00O0Wq8J1WUtWPuHAUlpiZVPIZKwQL4Tibo466xrbhmAIMEXXX3RCTttcb9DXvp8-JJNSU9Z36uY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="removing door trim" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I had to pull out a few lingering staples but that was it. And I don’t have any pictures of all of those steps because I was so sure it wasn’t going to work I didn’t even pull out the camera. </p> <p>I should not use my camera more often. ;) </p> <p>So anyway, I ended up with a trimless door and I was <strong>giddy</strong>: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3y4YsNUG1JHnG8z21KrblnER8xpbKSGjw8BGEusKnbwkSVm6tA1nqqlMv_IlJDc_sXhNLz3Ut5yC8VZiJR3w5VCTMB6O1KnsjZK81tqCo6AadL9pve6Kwbc6bhHED1qmNX0RBCG3O5GM/s1600-h/IMG_5353%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY craftsman door trim" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdAEXdwYwWNtoGs0_as8ueVkksoHXdpKt1yEWzjyc9zNwg1J04k5NvIWVQm37eTjmH3yg8oYUC6cnErQReLW9UZi5ufFAoTrnXZRS6GF2V-08IYUixl3lTUVEga7Uy480Gkx5KvlNFDo/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DIY craftsman door trim" width="400" /></a></p> <p>Seriously. I did a giddy dance.</p> <p>I could tell from the pics how I wanted to put the new trim up – it’s pretty self explanatory when you look at them. I started with two 1 by 4’s cut to the height of the door frame: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2KJsBM8ELXJKBzAPf3IURPgARoBMjZrK2o6BvAokA5QJJj8UXWYpJw3yaaEtFq63gHrkf3XDfhoPx6VV2eKiKzY03odCTAIy8RudiM062fwo7pJ5a12qoWuFLuJrPT1StI5xr9V0d58/s1600-h/IMG_5355%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY craftsman door trim" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1nwtsZPApAHGDKeDkC9JfQ3Yax9Xb_BosrxHk5Nf1Vve4KrzPf3VZSsT4tekO0rjQBi8BMehWVqtsxMZialU5k5OYcYpSnHQZIqIlqRZS-vpAH_x2rv6qC5E3_Ad4b7C0SdTn2mrHuI/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DIY craftsman door trim" width="400" /></a></p> <p>And then it was time for the “topper.” Again, pretty obvious from the pics on how to do it, but I had also read <a href="http://www.cape27blog.com/2013/04/craftsman-door-trim-tutorial/">this post</a> a couple weeks ago and liked how they put the topper together before they installed – that did help: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8D0Dtp2c1FjlhL0Ia5Apj4rGEP0CARp8gCbwlOhTYPrMxOmysoyDgZaAMPiDI2vquxYWHVaqUa1pUo5xmLlpvVKluVwvcIWzKe04BRc5PCqLZuY-NsnznOt3lSnHFL7B1oWsRYIfaT6M/s1600-h/IMG_5357%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY craftsman door trim" border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOI7jxI7ctwqDYPOwxZSEpZ-fHWeEv_6vY5i_Br4C4CnBLrImJURDkmRYd5umsVEw0QxAS_MiURMnRFhvC_y8g8guh9GoNc0hTAm3XRJGo-QUFlhnR8rVPsvQcypf0Q3fk9DTlCFvZ-Xs/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DIY craftsman door trim" width="550" /></a></p> <p>I put it together using wood glue and the nail gun. It’s made up of a 1 by 2 on top, a piece of the 1 by 4 in the middle and a piece of lattice (1/4 by 2) on the bottom.</p> <p>I just nailed that whole piece up when I was done:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicQsRUnq2WaALyrHGJNYMaWaZFlNhIjREtF5cakGDD8Ni6jGXr_yC_xrB6EENNW-QEfdvcybNtRurPYibmEvdYVjlXPkZ5w-3Dh_yOCdDSNOc2F3okhYBByFeRG4VMgf9Z3w53cwcYgI/s1600-h/IMG_5359%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY craftsman door trim" border="0" height="541" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMLHfNtWWzpudpqn7et_XG9YVSFS-zeHxKgZeM127rwS6Uaxg6ZlvDAMPnhRgeQTkm5SlOEJTHwqJmZstCaBZKsUrhdiOpqrxqpPxtI32Ko-n9PCXP69oHYvSExRHKeqU-ALJ3GUKF6U/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DIY craftsman door trim" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I couldn’t believe how easy it was! Installing the trim took all of about 15 minutes I think? </p> <p>So crazy fast!:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8y5Izc9PaMh5Zwe2JIZep5Z8mNBL0Lu2GmnJvHnDrGnYHsZB1kSf-y8TKvsgnJWzk6O2-d-kMQtEI_kBj2RRiUor5EJUk0M_-DLOqU_aWaj56Ik7EkSS521eEzgALn1rHjXQMVuZRb_o/s1600-h/IMG_5360%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY craftsman door trim" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-7xQESjU3KRnbazisDtGFI6OM75_VZ700rcHxSF9N4jQ3iFNbkaBJJBgaeHFLMk0YEa6xzifp5crfdxLD1Y-gQ8b9IjgERHh2MbQ3j92uEK61dm_oe6gDwa3DrpCUK5gDjbgsP4oglY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DIY craftsman door trim" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I still need to paint but I was so excited about it all I just had to show you. ;) This has awoken a beast though – I cannot <em>wait </em>to do the rest of the doors!  </p> <p>New trim and <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/01/black-interior-doors-in-basement.html">paint them all black</a>. It’s going to take forever. But at least one is kinda sorta on it’s way:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYanFPTo-K0jLPNZ9dBsIy-M99YJoC02aP5FMz70kRSGPtQJOucp4l23MDMfN6Q9NmgpiY931kKqNfv1ewcmQr2hcHvflBrPmdNty5Lb5XZF8HB-q2F108MVsRm8rdM6Y0yqHwER-77RE/s1600-h/IMG_5358%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY craftsman door trim" border="0" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0yBwPs3DgpqiZi97i9rphW1q9kbF149YoXH3KwuBr5qiH1lFj3JoZhoXdCTWMmLqJDg3uDP3Unjh2zOzsnh_xEywmHalhRbaDpA9QM4MyWanoYpRa9OdULJcnKs92eSrLdnEYrMBMnQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DIY craftsman door trim" width="450" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>I love it!</p> <p>A few tips:</p> <p>- I used my razor blade to get the caulk line off the area to the right where it met the paint. This was just so the new trim would lay flush against the wall.</p> <p>- I sanded the door frame before I installed the new trim to knock down the caulk/paint that was there. </p> <p>- I had to cut down the light switch plate a bit to make the new trim work. No biggie – just did it with the saw. :) </p> <p>- I caulked up all the visible gaps in preparation for paint. (Using <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/02/my-favorite-new-gadget.html">this awesome tool</a>.)</p> <p>- I used pine in here just in case we ever have a water issues, but will probably use mdf in other rooms. I’ll try both and see how the mdf holds up. </p> <p>I found this image on Pinterest that shows what I did, and the window frame version as well (ohhhh, how I hope our window sills come off as easy!): </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-cLFV_NyNQS45F0a5S6OCFconutRevKhYu_SurasgPP3OH4SW5hDNC0e1nYBk3QwRD-MLb8Bu_inI8yXHOGeoNAws_qGCMK0Ge3I0vT-oUyH94fAEnoY6Gc2o2YYSLwxJMBhD6VaOE8/s1600-h/469525f2a5508aed65b9a3fb5959b35a%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="craftsman door and window trim" border="0" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfwHGN5z_uGR9LfV6EmhTGJowrng4Q3A1tQn1Jnzkp1Q0Ss2wUpYfTn9Y4DVwjrWXf_yPVnBIOuI2jzX-4yfDjAzSz58fsP-nwJ12M_V4Mr_aqfdhFicyWjSpxYFNZtk_wk0ykvESL7w/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="craftsman door and window trim" width="300" /></a></p> <p align="center">(<a href="http://www.diychatroom.com/f14/mdf-window-door-baseboard-trim-made-router-100231/">source</a>)</p> <p>It’s really so easy – it took me longer to take off the trim and sand everything down than it did to install the new stuff!</p> <p>So, there you go! You know how you avoid something for years because you think it will be so hard and then it’s totally easy? Yeah, never happens to me either. Except for this time. ;) </p>

DIY craftsman door trim

Hey there! I’m off at the SNAP Conference today and flying home tonight – whirlwind trip I tell ya! It’s funny --  the older I get the harde...

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