Knife Block Redo

I know this isn't a "new" idea or anything, but I have been wanting to repaint my knife block for a few years now.  I saw it done here a while ago and pinned it for the future. 

Finally I got around to repainting my block!  I love the way it looks.  It was super easy too!

Isn't it lovely?  I wish I would have taken a "before" picture because this knife block is about 20 yrs old {so are my knives, scary, huh?}.  

You can picture how ugly and gross it was can't you?

Well I am so in love with how it turned out!!

I like the "W" too:)  Cute, huh?

See the cute rattan balls?  Find out how I gave those some color here.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Happy Monday!!

Cleaning with Vinegar

I am changing things up today folks.  On Sunday's  it's usually "Keeping it Real,"  but I can't thing of anything to say today, so I am going to post about this wonderful, miracle cleaner that I have been trying for a while now.

I know you have heard of Vinegar, but did you know they are thousands of ways you can clean with it? 

First I have to tell you a little about my Mother.  She is an angel.  I LOVE her!  She is pushing 81 these days, but she is as sharp as a tack.  

Her joy in life is to cut out articles out of the newspaper, or copy off hundreds of helpful hints for me, or ways to get rid of Lice.  

Most of the stuff, I don't pay that much attention too, but a few weeks ago she gave me some info about Cleaning with Vinegar.  

  My ears perked up.  You see I am not very fond of cleaning.  It's a pain and it encroaches on my crafting time, so anything I can do to make it easier and faster makes me happy!

So I have been trying some of the tips.  They REALLY work! 

The one I really like is cleaning my bathtub with Vinegar and dish soap.  It works VERY well.  The only thing I didn't like was how strong the Vinegar was while I was cleaning and it made me cough, but hey, my shower is Spic and Span!

Did you know Vinegar even strips all the hairspray build-up out of your hair?  REALLY!  My mom tried it and it works:)

So next time you go to clean with all those harsh chemicals, try Vinegar instead!  It's less toxic and it doesn't kill your brain cells.

If you have tried cleaning with Vinegar and have some tips to share, PLEASE leave it in the comments below!  I would love to hear:)

Hope you all have a great Sunday.  It's raining here, but I can tell, Spring is on it's way!

Friday Frolic #17

Shabby DIY Coasters and a Star redo

WOW! 

 You wouldn't believe the weather we are having today!!  It is sunny and about 60 degrees.  Gorgeous!!  So I spent this morning out on my driveway spray painting.  I had to take advantage of the Spring weather!

Here is what I painted this morning:

 I have had this star for a bazillion years and it used to be Red.  It was nice, but I needed a change.  I like the blue with my yellow house:)

I like the POP of blue it gives my house!

Ok, now this is not a spray paint project, but I have to show you what I made!  I got the idea over here at Shanty 2 Chic.  If you have never been to their blog, then you are really missing out.  They are some seriously talented girls and have some Fantastic projects on their blog. 

 When I saw their coasters, and they provided a free printable, I had to try it!  I am happy with the way they turned out.  You just have to like the Shabby, aged, distressed look....and well, I do!

  I used a different type of coaster than the girls over at Shanty to Chic, but I think they turned out pretty good!  The cool thing is the only $$ I spent was on the

Polyurethene.  It will be good for lots more projects too!

Now, I need to figure out who to give these to.  My SIL's birthday is coming up, mmmm  maybe.....or I might just keep them for myself!  

Have a great day and see you tomorrow for Friday Frolic!!

Friday Frolic Top 9 Features!

There were so many great projects linked up last week and many were tied at the top 5, so I am featuring 9 this week! 

Here they are:

Wedding Sign- Heather's Paper Crafts

St. Patrick''s Day Pillow- Crafts keep Me Sane

DIY  Framed For any Occasion- Sweet Little Bluebird.

Bead Board St. Patrick's Day Decor- Adventures of a DIY Mom.

Monogrammed Key Holder- Sensational Finds.

Cupcake Party Favors- Home Delicious.

Bread Box Power Station- Joyful Homemaking.

Reverse Applique Shamrock- This Big Oak Tree.

To Die For Soup- Alderberry Hill.

Thanks to all of you for linking up at my party last week!  I REALLY enjoy looking through all of your wonderful creations and hope you will come back this Friday to link up your latest!

If you were featured today, feel free to grab a FEATURED button from my sidebar.  I would SO appreciate it:)

See you soon!!

Luck Clover wood Plaque {tutorial}

Hello everyone!  Today I woke up to a teensy bit of snow, then it cleared up and was sunny and cold the rest of the day.  Gotta Love the Northwest:)

Today I was doing some Chemistry home work in my kitchen, but kept looking over at my craft counter.  I REALLY wanted to make something today.  So after an hour or so of homework, I broke out the CRAFTS!  

Here is what I made:

Wanna know how I made it?  Here is a little tutorial:

First, here are the supplies I used:

-Wood plaque I got at goodwill for .50 cents

-Wood LUCK sign {I got at Pick your Plum}

-little wooden shamrock {Pick your Plum}

-Green Apple Americana paint

-scrapbook paper {a 8 1/2 x 11 will be plenty}

-Mod Podge

-washi tape {I got this at Pick your Plum}

-small piece of fabric

-glue

Here we go!

1. Paint around the edges of your wood with the Green Apple paint.  No need to be super neat here, your just going to cover up the top and sand it like crazy when you are done!  Let dry.

2.  Give your "Luck" sign a little coat of the Green Apple paint.  I used the paint very sparingly on the "luck" sign.  Let dry.

3.  umm, that picture should not be there, just use it to look at the paint bottle if ya want!

4.  Cut your Scrapbook paper to fit the top of your piece of wood.  I cut mine too big, but it doesn't matter, cause you are just going to sand the edges of the paper off anyway:) Cover the top of the wood with a light coat of Mod Podge.  

5.  Apply the paper and use a pampered chef scraper or a credit card to smooth down the paper from the center out.  Let dry completely.

6.  I put a small piece of green with white polka dots washi tape on the letter L, C, and K.  You can't see it very well in the pictures.  I like it, but you could cut out the washi tape if you don't have any.

7.  Sand your wood around the edges where the scrapbook paper hangs off.  Its easier if you use a palm sander, but you can use a piece of sand paper as well.  Just make sure you sand DOWN towards the floor away from the paper, so you don't lift up the paper off the wood. 

8.  Wrap your piece of fabric around the small shamrock and glue it on your plaque.  Glue the "luck" sign on.  Let dry.

9.  Done!  I totally rushed through this project, because I had to leave to take my MIL to the airport, but I LOVE the way it turned out.  I think I am going give it to my neighbor for a gift:)  

Hope you liked this tutorial.  I enjoyed making this cute craft and I love all the goodies I got from Pick Your Plum!  They have the best stuff!!

Have a great day!

I am a Child of God Block

Sunday evenings are always nice, huh?  We just go done having Ranch House Crock Pot Pork Chops with Parmesan Mashed Potatoes and oh, boy were they good!!  This picture does NOT do them justice.  They are delicious!

 See that gravy?  It will make your mouth water.  I have never tasted such yummy gravy {and I am not really a gravy person!}.

You should try this recipe.  Even my kids LOVED it!

Now onto more crafty related things.  

The other day I had a crafty moment so I whipped this out:

 This probably took me a total of about 1/2 hour, including drying time.  I simply painted the block (from a 2 x 6), painted it with Wedding Cake from Martha Stewart, then Mod Podged the cute paper on. 

 I LOVE the look of this paper.  It was already distressed looking.  Cool, huh?  The brand of the paper is called CRATE PAPER.  Love it!

I think is a good reminder, don't you? 

I added the ribbon and I think it matches so well.  I love the little pop of purple and green together!

 

Hope your having a fabulous Sunday!  

Thanks so much for stopping by:)

Linking here:

Serendipity and Spice

Keeping it Real {Sunday}

How is your Sunday going so far?  I am going to REALLY try and enjoy it and spend some quality time with my family! 

I am getting a little freaked out because my oldest is turning 18 this week.  How did that happen?  Where did my little girl who LOVED princesses, go?

Where did the time go?  I am sitting here wondering what happened to all the time.  She is such a sweet girl.  I know everybody thinks that about their kids, but really she is.  

I am excited for her to continue on with her life and achieve all that she wishes for.  She is so smart and talented. 

This is in Astoria Oregon at the Astoria Column when she was about 10.  Braces and glasses days!  {Little sister is being evil little sister!}

Now, here she is almost grown.  So beautiful!

She is such a great example to me.  She is wise beyond her years.  

LOVE YOU NATALIE!

Friday Frolic # 16!

Pinch Me- St. Patrick's Day Blocks!

 

It's official- I am obsessed with GREEN!  I don't even celebrate St. Paddy's Day, but I just love all these Green decorations!  

Yesterday I came home from school and needed to do something crafty, so I made these cute and EASY Pinch Me Blocks!  

These are just a 2 x 4 cut into chunks, then I measured the blocks before I cut out the letters with my Cricut.  

First I painted my blocks with Americana Sour Apple {my favorite!} paint.

After it was dry, I chose some paper I had on hand, that had lots of green it it!  I got this paper at Micheal's or you can get it at most craft stores. 

I cut the paper in squares a bit smaller than the wood, then adhered it with  

Mod Podge.  

After the Mod Podge was dry, I added another layer of Mod Podge on top of the paper.  When that was dry, I added the vinyl.  

Then, I sanded around all the edges for that shabby distressed look:)  

EASY!!  It made these in about 1 hour {with drying time} and it was with everything I already had on hand.  

 

 See that cute printable next to the blocks?  You can get that here.  

Have a FABULOUS day and be sure and stop by tomorrow for another FRIDAY FROLIC Linky Party!!

Friday Frolic top 5 Features!

Can I just say that I REALLY enjoyed going through all of the goodies you all linked up last week!!

I had several comments from visitors saying they were excited to try some of the crafts that were linked up:)  

You all amaze me with your talents!!

Here are the top 5 viewed links from last week:

St. Patrick's Day Decorations from Cupcake Kisses 'N' Crumbs.

Monogram Canvas from My Hearts Desire.

Spring Party Ideas from A to Zebra Celebrations.

Homespun With Love and Can of 3 Shamrocks.

Last but not least one of my favorite blogs Today's Fabulous Finds and her St. Patrick's Day Interchangeable Frame.

Thanks to all who linked up and I hope you'll join us this Friday for Friday Frolic Party!!  

If you were featured here, feel free to grab a FEATURED button on my sidebar. 

Have a great day!

Temple Wood Block

Sorry I missed posting yesterday.  I have another Chemistry mid-term tomorrow and I have been studying like crazy!!  Hope it pays off:)  How is your day going??

A person can only study for so long, so I got the urge to make something.  I have wanted to make these forever, and to be completely honest, I have tried them several times, but had some serious craft fails!  Finally I figured things out and it worked!!

I got my print here at The Idea Door.  I have seen other versions, but this is my favorite.  So many great ideas at this site!!  LOVE IT!

Here is what you need:

-5 x 6 piece of wood. I routed the edges because I got a new router:)

- 3 1/2 x 5 Printed picture of the temple, or whatever picture you would like!

-paint {whatever color you choose}. 

-7/16" upholstery nails {about 3 bucks at Home depot and you get 24}.

Rust-O-leum Ultimate Polyurethane Soft touch Finish.  I like the Matte finish.  {about 6.99 for 8 oz. at Lowe's}.

-Mod Podge

-If you like the vintage look, I used a Tim Holtz ink pad {vintage}.

First I painted the wood and let it dry. 

Here is where I messed up before.  The ink from my printer seems to run when I cover the image with mod podge, so this time I glued the picture on with mod podge, but did not cover the top part with it. I also printed the picture on white scrapbook paper.  I don't know if that made a difference, but I think it looks a little nicer!

Next, I sanded all the edges to make it look distressed, including the picture a little bit.  Then, I covered the edges of the paper and wood with the Vintage ink pad. 

After that was dry, I hammered the upholstery nails in each corner of the picture.  I really like the way the nails look.  It gives it even more of a vintage look!

After everything is dry, brush a think layer of the Polyurethane all over the wood.  Let dry.

LOOKS FABULOUS, huh?

These would be great for gifts for little kids.  This one is going in my daughters room.  I want to make a lot more:)

I will be back later tomorrow afternoon for the Friday Frolic Features!  See ya soon:)

Keeping it Real {Sunday}

I have been slacking lately with my posts.  My life feels a little crazy right now.  I am going to school, dealing PMS now just about 3 weeks out of the month, and have been a bit of a Debby Downer lately.  

Sorry!

I have been feeling a bit like this.

It's no fun getting older, I tell ya!! Your body goes through all kinds of funny and not so fun changes!!  Some times I feel like I should just commit myself already!

Thank goodness for my husband and kids. I am so grateful for them.  Without them, who knows where I would be.  

Today I am home not feeling well and trying to read some uplifting material.  I came across this earlier:
 

 

LOVE IT!!  Lifts me up and makes me feel like everything is going to be OK!  No worries.  LIFE IS GOOD:)

No matter what we are going through, there is always tomorrow.  I look forward to a new day....

Love you guys!!

{OH, and I am featuring lots of the Friday Frolic links on my FB.  If you don't already follow me, please do!!}

Friday Frolic #15

Changing my purse from cute to CAUUUTE!!

 So I have this purse.  I really liked it when I bought it last year.  I had an idea of something I wanted to do to it to add a little POP color. 

Shoot, I forgot to take a before picture.  Well, you can imagine what it looked like with out the pretty flowers, can't you?  

 

I LOVE these cute flowers!  I can't get enough of them!!  I found another awesome tutorial on how to make them and some other fancy ones. 

You should try and make some of these.  They are easy and FUN to make!  

Have a great day.  See you tomorrow for Friday Frolic:)

Green St. Patrick's Day Wreath {tutorial}

Today I caught the craft bug!  I have wanted to make some kind of St. Patrick's Day wreath, but I just wasn't sure what I wanted it to look like. 

So today I went at it.  Here is what I came up with!

I started off with about 6 different patterns of fabric.  Most of them were fabric quarters on sale at JoAnns this last weekend.

I also cut strips of Burlap to cover up the white styrofoam wreath.  

Here it is all wrapped up and ready to decorate!

I didn't take pictures of making the flowers, but there are some fabulous tutorials already out there.  Here is one I used.

I never really decorated for St. Paddy's Day before, but it's kinda fun to see what I can come up with!  I love the way it turned out:)  

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!