Scrabble Art

I am sure you have all seen the scrabble art floating around craft shops and blog land.  Well, this is my version:

I modpodged some pretty card stock over a canvas I had laying around and glued on some old scrabble pieces.  It is so simple, and a fun little piece of art for any room in the house!

I also redid this cute little bird house.  It was already red, I just added the black and white paper and scrabble  letters.  I am loving how it turned out!

This is a short post because I have had a crazy week.  I am ready to sit on the couch with my hubster and relax... or even better, hang out on the beach in the Bahamas!!  You probably think I am kidding, but I'm not:)  I will be spending the next week with my toes in the sand and a margarita in my hand.  Don't worry, I have some posts planned for all of next week, and I will be posting some great beach pics when I get back!  Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Cheers!

Guest Post

Hey Peeps!

Just wanted to let you all  know that I am guest posting over at Keeping It Simple today.  I am so excited to be sharing my table runner tutorial with all of her readers.  So hop on over there and show me some love if you have some time... or if you just want to know how to make these awesome table runners:)  What are you waiting for??  Hop Hop Hop:) 

 

Cheers!

Kick Your Feet Up

Kick your feet up on this little beauty!

Ok, it didn't start off so pretty, but after a little face lift, this vintage foot rest turned out so pretty!

Recognize the fabric?  You saw it on my rocking chair redo here.  I used rope for the trim and I love the rustic feel!

Once again, I chose to leave the wood just the way it is.  It was in great vintage quality and I hate to ruin something so pretty!

I love it!  I almost didn't want to put it in the shop, but there is nowhere for it to go in my house, so with one sad tear I said goodbye:)

Have a very happy weekend!

My Resolution

Every year I set goals for myself.  I set personal, financial, and career goals.  Well, this year is different.  I still have goals.  I mean, I want to see The Dented Lampshade be wildly successful, I want to help grow Prestige Estate Services and show everyone what an amazing company it really is, I want to win the lotto.

I tend to push towards those goals all the time regardless of whether or not I write them down.  So, I'm not really worried about those, they will work themselves out because I work hard.  Nope, my goal is a little different.  I spend so much of my free time working on my career goals that I forget to work on the most important things.

1: My God
2: My Family
3: Myself

These are my goals (or resolutions if you will).

1:  I want to spend more time with God.  I used to pray all the time... Now, I am lucky to give God a quick high five on my way out the door, with my hair on fire and my head spinning.  I want to sit down and actually give him the time He deserves.  After all, He did give me all of the amazing things I hold so close to my heart.  I have started with this... I give Luci a bottle 2 times a day.  This usually takes about 5 to 10 minutes and it is about the only time she will sit still and relax in my lap.  I am going to use these two times a day to pray.  Usually my mind is in a race.  I am planning my next project, or making lists in my head and before I know it, the bottle is empty and I didn't even enjoy the quiet time with my baby.  Now, I am going to quiet my mind for just those few minutes and actually enjoy feeding my baby and spending time with my savior.  I feel like the two should really go together:)  I know 20 minutes a day isn't enough but it will start me down a road that I know will grow.

2:  I tend to use my free time, ie: the weekends, evenings, and Mondays (I have them off) working.  I mean, I am checking emails, working on projects, etc.  This does not qualify as time off!  I am going to FORCE myself, and yes I will actually have to force myself, to really stop.  Stop planning, stop working, and enjoy.  I am going to roll around on the floor with my little girl more often.  When she stands at the door and points to the sky and says "moon" in excitement, I am going to bundle her up and go out there and talk about the moon with her.  When she goes to bed at night, I am no longer going to rush downstairs and get my sewing machine, or paint gun out.  I am going to sit and be with my husband for an hour.  I am going to chat with him and snuggle.  Too often, I spend our chat times with a hot glue gun in my hand.

We are each going to have weekly dates.  Luci and I are going to have a mommy daughter date on Mondays.  We are going to do something I know she likes every time with no other agenda.  This can be playing outside together, walking around the neighborhood, reading her favorite books, going to the zoo, just as long as it is all about Luci for at least a few hours.  I am going to have a date with my husband every week.  Even if it is a candle light dinner over pizza.  It doesn't have to be fancy, just time spent together.  I am also going to encourage Kyle to have a daddy daughter date once a week.  I'm sure he will love that:)

3:  And finally goal number three, and for me the hardest thing to make time for is my self.  If I don't schedule it out, I won't take it.  So here it is.  On Mondays, during Luci's nap time, instead of cleaning, crafting, making phone calls, answering emails, you get the idea, I am going to do something I want to do.  I am going to read, or paint my toenails, or just sit and stare at the wall.  I am just going to take those few hours each Monday, while I have the house to myself and just enjoy it.

I know it sounds crazy that I have to plan like this.  But for me, if I don't plan, it won't happen.

So there you have it.  Those are my goals for 2012.

My friend Amanda put this quote on her facebook the other day and I really took it to heart.  So this sums it up:

"The romance of life is lost through speed and efficiency."

Hope you all have a very blessed 2012!!

Stripidy stripe stripe

Well, my mom brought home this sad looking side table.  Isn't it so sad:(  I wasn't sure how to make it pretty but I knew it could have a new life.  The knobs on it were already so cute and I loved the texture of the wicker drawers.  After sitting it in the garage for a month while I procrastinated dreamed up a fun idea, this is what I came up with.

I started by taking out the drawers and painting my base coat (after primer of course).  I started with an Ivory for my base.

Next, I taped off some stripes.  It was really easy, and lets be honest, I didn't measure so they aren't perfect.

Now this step is the most important part when painting stripes, on furniture, walls, wherever.  Paint over the tape with your base coat.  This seals any openings the tape may have so your next color doesn't leak through and you get perfectly perfect stripes!

I sprayed the entire thing in aqua including the drawer faces.  Then you just pull off the tape, preferably before the paint drys. 

I also sanded the edges a bit to give it a shabby look and that was it!  Viola, a fun little stripy number that would look so cute in a kid's room.

And here it is in my shop:

Have a very happy day!

HGTV Estate Sale

Yep, you read it right!  So, I know I have been sharing a lot about my store at The Barn and the projects I have been doing to keep it filled, but today I have a special little treat.  In case you guys didn't know, not only am I loving having my store at The Barn but I am LOVING my new job with Prestige Estate Services.  I have a few sales under my belt now... and let's be honest, each one is unique in it's own way.  I think that is why it's so fun, you never do the same thing twice!  Well, this week's sale is by far my favorite and I don't think anything will ever beat it.  


Let me explain.  HGTV has donated TONS of brand new, seriously NICE furniture and home decor to Rebuild Denver (a non-profit organization committed to rebuilding Denver).  So, my job last week was to help stage and price all of this gorgeous stuff!  Seriously people, I can't imagine anything more fun.  It has taken everything in me (and the fact that my bank account wouldn't allow it) not to buy it all up for myself! 


The sale will be this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm.  If you check out Prestige Estate Services  you can get the address on Wednesday before the sale. I can assure you, if you decide to stop by you will NOT be disappointed!  


And now it's time for the good stuff... want a sneak peak at some of the goods???  Do I even have to ask??? Drum roll please....

Wow!  That was a lot of pictures, but that doesn't even cover half of the cool stuff.  Check out Prestige Estate Services for even more pictures!  I guess it is safe to say that I LOVE my new job.  2012 seems to be off to a fan-frigen-tastic start wouldn't you say??!!  Hope to see you all on Thursday.


P.S.  If you want updates on all of our cool sales Like Prestige Estate Services on facebook and you will get the inside scoop!  Also, after they get 500 likes they will be giving away a free IPad to a random winner!  So go like them... please:)

A Trip Down Memory Lane

In celebration of the new year, I thought I would take a look back at some of my favorite blog posts/projects of 2011.

This was my very first blog post ever.  I didn't give a tutorial but this is still one of my favorite projects yet.  You can check it out here.  

This isn't a project but, oh my gosh, it is so funny.  And yes, the war is still raging in our house.  You can check out our war here  and round 2 of the war here.  In case you are wondering, Spanky is still alive and kicking.  Currently he greats our visitors sitting on the front porch.

This is the rosette lamp I did.  Mmmm perdy!

Now for the countdown:  This is currently the number 3 most viewed post on my blog and one of my favorites.  It is still hanging in my living room.  You can see the post here.

The number 2 most viewed post was this Built-in Redo.  

And finally, for the number one most viewed post:  Luci Rae's Kitchen!  

Hope you have enjoyed this little trip down memory lane!

Along with these fun projects, 2011 brought some amazing changes.  My baby girl turned 1, my husband turned 30, and I turned in my insurance career for 2 brand new careers.  You can read about these Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes here.  I am loving life right now and can't wait to see what 2012 has in store... assuming the world doesn't end haha... in which case, it was a fun ride!  Hope this year brings you much fun, creativity and most of all love!  

I would like to take a minute to thank you all for following along.  You have no idea what it means to me.  The blog world has introduced me to such a wonderful community and I am so thankful for all of the new friendships I have developed because of it!