Decisions, decisions...

I've been wanting a pedestal table to cut down into a coffee table for awhile now.  Similar to these: 

Or this one: 

Or this: 

I found one on craigslsist earlier this month...already cut down. It was painted a color I didn't like but that's an easy fix. Logistically, it didn't work out and someone else ended up with my table. 

This weekend Jonathan and I went after a Beauty!  Price was right but it's really pretty and solid and antique and I'm having a hard time pulling the trigger on cutting the pedestal. :/

Here it is in pieces:

Look at that solid base! And those feet! I might be dying!,

And those are the leaves (2!) leaning up behind the couch. 

Here's the top: 

Imagine it not on the floor and a cushion not hanging off the couch....

It's really pretty wood...solid wood. The top is about 2" thick!

I have no space for it as dining room height table but I'm seriously struggling at the thought of making major changes to this piece. 

And look what I found on the bottom of the table top: 

It says "All my love, Mike"

To shorten or not to shorten...that is the question. What would you do?!?

Christmas Church Bazaar

Fortuna Methodist Church had their Craft Bazaar a couple weeks ago. I set up my stuff at home....just to make sure it went ok. 

Gift tags and Christmas cards... all piled into an old suitcase and some cheese boxes. 

And I gold leafed some pine ones into a garland. It didn't sell but I'm excited to decorate with it then year. 

I thought I had some pics from the Church but I must have deleted them.... Dang! 

Anyway, what have you made lately?

EDITED to add pictures from the Church...I didn't delete the, after all. :)

You can see the garland at the bottom. 

The little jars, to the right, are from my fav jalapeño peppers. :) I added Epsom salt, tea lights, some twine and jingle bells. They didn't sell either but I have a plan for here! :)

Here's some closer pics of the stuff in the suitcase and boxes:

There you go!

Checking in to say

Tomorrow is the day!! Tomorrow morning, 9 am, I sit for the Certified Hand Therapy credential exam. Yikes!
Please pray for calmness, brain power and whatever else comes to you.

I leave you with a sweet boxer picture, some tulips and a sweet baby boy

Valentine's Day gift for my Sweetie {Pinterest}

I made this for JJ last year. I didn't want to show it off until he got it so I saved the post to give inspiration this year. :)

My friend Leslie, alerted me to a pin she found on Pinterest. Of course! I immediately pinned it to my "Crafy Creations & Ideas" board. This is where I keep a stash of all the things that catch my eye for ideas, inspiration, how-tos, etc.

The original idea came from PaperVine. Lowri wrote a great tutorial. I followed most of it, I just decorated mine differently.

Here's hers:

I really recommend going and reading her tutorial. It's very straightforward.

Without further ado, here's my finished product!


I cut the letters off some patterned paper I had in my stash.



I covered the front and back of each page...so you really can't see that the base is a deck of cards. When I began, it really wasn't my intention to cover all surfaces...as I had sanded (ruined a cutting board and breathed in who-knows-what from the plastic coating) both sides off all the cards.


This is somewhat of a side view. Mine really doesn't stand up or anything. And I had to use 2" (I think) rings because I added too many layers to use the ones recommended in the tutorial.

Overall, I LOVED this project.

-First I made my list of reasons.
-Then I chose a paper pack and some papers.
-I cut all the pieces with George cartridge on my Cricut...messing with the size until I had a relationship that looked good.
-I hand wrote all the reasons...because I like the idea of my handwriting being on there. And because I am straight up terrible at printing labels. :)

What projects are you making for your Sweetie for Valentine's Day? I'd love to know.

Re-purposing a Christmas Card

I generally keep Christmas cards from special people or if I really like the message or picture or think I can re-purpose it some how. {Don't you know my husband loves that about me!} Actually, I don't think he minds.

Take a look:

Last year, we received this card from our Aunt Willie Sam and Uncle Louis. I loved that it was a shape card and beautiful! I knew my Stickles were going to glam it right up!!! (Apparently I was too excited to get started...I don't have a before picture...image the above without glitter...I know it's hard. Everything is better with glitter.)

Anyone have any tips on fussy cutting chipboard?

I loved Jonathan's Aunt Willie Sam instantly. She reminds me so so much of my Nana. Even her hand writing is similar so I knew I had to save and re-porpose the inside of the card too! Really, it's the way she makes her "L"s.

I cut a piece of patterned paper to fit the chipboard on the back of the card front and mod podge'd the pieces together with the inside of the card in the middle. A little Tim Holtz distress ink around the edges and I thought it turned out great!

I intend to lean it in my kitchen window at Christmas time this year. But it was dark when I finished it all up and got it dry enough to handle so I changed up the photo shoot.

I love that little shelf area in my bathroom...yes, I was taking pictures in the bathroom. :)

It's the bathroom right out side of my craft room. It has a cute pedestal sink and is just quaint. Our guests don't use it because there's a larger one across the hall...but I pretend they do. :)

So, do you save Christmas cards too?

Partying at Jennifer Rizzo's place. Check it out here.

Thank you, birthday, etc

I have several cards that I have yet to show off. All of these I have made for one challenge or another over at CardSwaps. Have you evert been over there? I love that forum...great people, great talent, fun crops...just all around good!

Please allow me.

This thank you card, I made for our Uncle Brandon. He took me junking in far north Missouri. I had a BLAST and have several tasters to show off as well! ;)

Noww this box!!! In love this box. I made it for my Grandma's birthday. I am going to try to fit gift tags in there....like this.

I also made this card which will be for my Grandma's birthday later on this year.

If you have been reading here for long, you know that I always make her gift tags for her Christmas gifts for her birthday, which is December 7th. Here's a couple that I made this year:

You can see ones I have made in past years: Here,and Here

Have you made any gifts lately? I'd love to see them. Leave a link in the comments.

Treat Yourself Crop {Blog Hop}

Welcome to the Treat Yourself Crop {Blog Hop}!

I trust you found your way here from Colleen's. Doesn't she have great style??

Check out the crop at CardMaker Magazine's message board. You will have until 11:59PM EST August 14, 2012 to get your projects done and uploaded to the challenge thread. Check it out! You will be glad you did...lots of great inspiration plus a nice group of people!

We were suppose to create a project aligning with the theme of {Treat Yourself}. Hmmm...I'm pretty good at taking care of me. I like Sunday afternoon naps with my Husband. I like sugar scrub, pretty fingernail polish, the occasional pedicure. I like to sing hymns to myself around the house. I like lunch with my girlfriends, a great junk store, estate auctions and porch swings. I like old furniture and spray paint. I like old houses and front porches. I try to turn the things I do into treats for me...even the laundry.

And I lie. :) About the laundry. I hate to do laundry but I tell myself that when it's done, I can do something I like to do. Like sit on the porch or swing in my hammock or explore a junk store.

And I digress....

Anyway, I recently got a new hammock and I love hammocks! In my card, below, I substituted a tire swing. :)

Stamp set: Branch Out (retired Stampin Up) Paper: Red (SU), card base (recollections), patterned paper (My Mind's eye)

This post is brought to you by the letter: R.

Your next stop: Ivanka Enjoy!!

The path...in case you have lost your way:

CardMaker Blog

Jane

Susan

Margaret

Golda

Meredith

Jeanette

Colleen Schaan

Laura <----Here!

Ivanka

Marlene

Anya Schrier

Angelina

Ana

Ashley

Lora

Oh I wish I were...

Say what??

Look up ahead. Do you see it?

Of course I see cool things on the highway when I'm by myself...no one to focus on photography!

Can you believe it?

Any of you Moniteau County kids remember when the Weiner Mobile ran off the road in Tipton, right across from the football field? I think it was maybe summer of 1999 or so.

I wonder how you get to drive the Weiner Mobile? That would be fun!!

If you look closely, you can see my Sister's birthday present in the back of my car. :)

When was the last time you saw the Weiner Mobile??

Front Porch Sitting Accessories

So, I went to the Salvation Army's in my work town today. I was hunting an ice cream freezer. My Dad's gave up the fight this weekend.

I didn't find a freezer but I did find a few treasures!

If you follow me on Pinterest, you know that I pin a bunch of junk to a board called "front porch sittin". Click {here} to see my board. I'm working on an easy space that's pretty but not fussy. Comfortable but not sloppy. I'm getting closer, I think.

Today, I found a couple of plant stands. They are really tall so I'm going to use them for side tables. For a buck each, I got both!! :) One may make it to my sun porch so I have a coffee perch...we shall see.

I just set them out on the porch...found condition. I think I like them as is....we shall see what Jonny says.

So anyway, before you get bored...

That's a tiny glimpse of a Church Pew my Mom picked up for me at an auction a couple of weeks ago...$50. Score!!!

I'm a sucker for legs and that green leg is just beautimus to me!

Here's my other table:

That's a whole vingette of second hand finds. I got the wreath, covered in grapes and weird ribbon at a yard sale for a quarter. The chair I got from a road side junk store for around $25. I probably over paid for it as it is in pretty rough condition but I still like it. And so far, it has held me up. :)

I'd like to find a small area rug for this corner. Maybe like 4'x6' or so.

Here's the table a little closer.

Here's the burning question...with my purple house and eclectic tables and chair...what color would you paint my Church Pew?

And, I'm linking up over at Southern Hospitality's Thrifty Treasures party. Click {here} to play along!

I was FEATURED!!!

Can you believe it!?!

Rhoda, from Southern Hospitality featured my tea cart in her Thrifty Treasures recap.

I'm talking about this cart:

Here it is currently...still not completely painted.

{Here} is the original party I linked to. And {here's} where she featured me! ME!! Woo Hoo!!! Thank you, Rhoda!

If you like finding great deals, yard sales, second hand shops, etc, etc, you should totally check out Southern Hospitality. You will be glad you did!