Reformed Big Ugly Mirror

Remember when I showed you that big ugly mirror I got at a yard sale for $10?? Click {here} to see that thing again...go ahead, I'll wait.

I know right?!?

Here's where we started. Sans beautiful tapestry and ready for some pretty.

I went to town with my favorite Heirloom White spray paint.

When I bought it originally, I had something like this in mind:

Source...as near as I know.

You can see the rest of my Master Suite inspiration photos {here}.

I have the giant ampersand but I haven't decided if I want it to say "you & me" or "mr & mrs) or if I want to use vinyl or cloth for the other letters...too many decisions.

BUT! I knew I wanted to use this frame, ASAP.

Enter our current Mantle decor:

I haven't had a great plan going on in here since I took the Christmas off there. This is ok at first glace but allow me to put this all in perspective for you...

Almost there:

I know. Where did my little vignette go????

So I started over with a bigger base: And I added some stuff from other places: Recognize that "Jones" sign from these pictures?? Click {here} to see the ones of which I speak.

I was trying to hold it up there to see what I thought...I got this great idea that I'd snap a picture and then I could "see" what it would look like. Note to self: Need longer arms. :)

I busted out my command hooks and it worked great!! I added a few accessories and here's what I came up with: And the whole effect, plus a Boxer.

I wasn't terribly in love with it but decided it would do just fine until I thought of something else.

Well, Jj didn't much care for the picture in a picture. He said, "that's weird. Do other people hang pictures inside frames that don't fit or did you just come up with something here?" I told him that I see it all over the internet and it's really quite normal. Alas, I agree with him...it's kind of akward.

So, I removed the "Jones" sign and put it back where it was.

Here's where we are now. I have a plan but I need a good coupon code to Mpix.com first. ;)

A little plain but like I said, I have a plan.

And about those cords that I tried to stuff in the basket...when we bought this house, we went ahead and had hook-ups for satellite TV added to this room. We have no idea if we want or exactly where we would put a TV in here. For now, I have the box and cords sort of piled into a basket...

Edited to include the following: Linked up to Jennifer Rizzo's Painted Project Party.

What's your go-to mantle decorating trick? I could use some assistance!

Another Joy to the World!

There's a crop going on at CardMaker Magazine Forum. Click over {here} and see the challenges...come play along!! (Anyone can play and it's free.)

For the challenge called "Starry Eyed" you had to create a card with a star. This was my only star...and I love it!

On my Pinterest board for Cards, I have the inspiration for this card. Click {here} to see the original. Edited* to add: I also entered this card to the ABC Christmas Challenge called "K is for keeping it simple". ( I can't seem to make the link from my iPad. I'll fix it, I promise. Until then, go here: http://abcchristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/2012/05/k-is-for-keep-it-simple.html

In the Spotlight: Christmas

There's a crop going on at CardMaker Magazine Forum. Click over {here} and see the challenges...come play along!! (Anyone can play and it's free.)

For the challenge called "In the Spotlight" you had to create a card with something from the sky or that flies. I decided that if one was in outer space, one would see the Earth...right??

I have made cards with this "spotlight" idea before...but I didn't know the technique had an actual name.

Here's another look.

Are you a glitter lover too?

Joy to the World!!

There's a crop going on at CardMaker Magazine Forum. Click over {here} and see the challenges...come play along!! (Anyone can play and it's free.)

For the challenge called "Bling me up Scotty" you had to create a card with something from the sky or that flies. I decided that if one was in outer space, one would see the Earth...right??

You were supposed to add some bling too! I colored the ribbon around the Earth with a gel glitter pen.

Edited to add: I also linked this card to the Winter Wonderland Challenge to create a Christmas card (of course) with embossing as a feature on your card. Click {here} to party like it's Christmas.

So, have you made a Christmas card lately?

Time To Shine! BlogHop

Welcome from Kimberly Crawford's!! I bet you enjoyed your time there didn't you!?

You are on the Time to Shine Blog Hop sponsored by CardMaker Magazine. Remember, there's a great crop with tons of cool challenges {and prizes} going on over at CardMaker Forum. Check us out!!!

In sticking with the theme of times in which people shine, I wanted to show you a graduation card I made for our niece, Anna. She's graduating from high school this coming weekend. Even though it's been several years ago, I remember being super excited to graduate from high school, to experience the adventures set out for me. I knew I wanted to go to college but I had no idea back then, three or four majors later, where I would be today. Whew!! Our Anna wants to go to school to be a dentist. We are super proud of her!!!

Here's my sample:

I got the idea from Chrissy Kelly. You can see her original work right here.

Supplies:
Cricut with George and Basics Cartridge (for all the circles)
K & Company paper called Love Birds
Tim Holtz distress ink in Worn Lipstick and Antique Linen
Decorative Label Punch (from Stampin UP!)

I thought I would show you another angle since it looks like some of my circles are rumpled in the above picture. They don't look like that in person...

From here, I hope you will check out Tammy's blog. She's sure to have something delightful for you! Click {here}.

This post is brought to you by the letter E.

Thank you so, so much for stopping by my blog. I hope that you will come back soon!

The list of hoppers, in case you got lost.
Brooke Smith -CardMaker blog
Jeanette
Ashley
Anya Schrier
Golda
Ivanka
Ana
Michelle Woerner
Judy L
Lisa
Trudy Sjolander
Jane
Angelina
Kimberly Crawford
Laura <<-----You are here
Tammy
Carolyn King
Marlene
Susan
Colleen Schaan
Meredith
Lora

Big Ugly Frame, What??

This past weekend I went garage-saleing with my sister in law, Lara. (Side Note: She's my husband's bother's wife...so that makes us both La{u}ra Jones.)

Anyway, we went to Pleasant Hill, MO and found us a great little neighborhood and had a blast!!!

We walked up to a house...didn't look like much we were interested in until I saw this big Bertha leaning against the basketball goal!

I asked how much and the sale-keeper said $10. I didn't hesitate one single bit!!

100% better already without that stylish tapestry!

I'll show you what I did with it later. For now, I'm linking up with Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for her Thrifty Treasures Party.

Since you see my new frame lying on my drop cloth...you get the idea that I'm going to do some painting. What would you do with this Big Ugly?

Momogram J + Empty Frame = Pretty Eye Candy

I started with this wooden (MDF) letter that I got a couple of years ago at a shop in Rolla, MO while paper shopping with my Dad and Sister.

Side Note: For part of our Christmas, he took us to this local scrapbook store in Rolla. He gave us each money and let us pick out whatever we wanted. While we were shopping, he walked around and picked out stuff he thought we would like too. We had a blast making memories that day!

In that picture above, I had already used some Tim Holtz distress ink in Antique Linen around the edges. I tried Frayed Burlap but it was too dark and too green (like olive drab green).

I covered the letter in Mod Podge and pressed my paper on top. I decided it needed a bit more pressure so I turned it upside down.

That didn't seem to be heavy enough so I did what every girl would do...

I grabbed my knife block and sat it on top!

Fancy, I know. :)

I let it dry for a bit...like maybe an hour and then cut around the letter from the back. In hind sight, I think I would have let it dry a little longer.

I grabbed an old frame I had out in the garage (from a project that didn't go as planned). Now I have this in our entry.

I wish I could show you how ugly those frames were!!! They were all gold and had nasty water stained mats with stinky pictures that were all crinkly from water. I think I got 4 total and they were $2 each...I'm pretty sure I said "perfect" out loud! And I also got crop dusted by a 'gentleman' that day in Salvation Army. Nasty! But worth it for the frame deal I suppose.

Here's a farther back look:

I added a dainty little crocheted doily, about the size of a drink coaster after...but I didn't snap a picture...oops.

I'd like to add some more too..but I just don't know what yet.

See that green in the corner? It's this horse of an Elephant Ear plant my Mom gave us last summer when we bought this house.

So what else would you add in our entry? I'd love to hear.

Besides Murphy's oil soap and poly the baseboard and get rid of that DREADED green tile!!

I'm linking up with Rhoda @ Here's the Party at which I'm playing.

I also linked up with Jennifer Rizzo. Here's the link to the party at which I'm playing.

A new 'Do.

I have to hand it to the next generation...

They sure have perfected the Mirror Self Portrait. I on the other hand, have not yet mastered the skill. Is that a skill? I guess so. We will leave it at that.

I showed you a couple of hair ideas I liked way back here. My how time does pass me by. That was over a month ago!!

Anyway, I wanted to take some pictures of my new 'Do but the strangest thing kept happening. Everytime I was wearing cute clothes, I had bad hair. Then when I was hanging out in yoga pants, I'd have some pretty great hair.

So, unfortunately for you, I snapped some shots of my sort of new 'Do for you to see. I think I had had the cut for about 2 weeks when I took these pictures.

There! I figured out where to look so that I don't look like I'm starring in glamour shots. :)

I really liked the lightness of the sides in the above picture.

And the back:

The back is ok. I'm not a huge fan of those cubbyholes through which you see my ears...I don't even have big ears and it's still odd.

Note to self: Omit ear holes.

So, what do you think of your last 'Do? Eyeing a new one? I'd love to hear!