Sweet Chippy Console Table

Get ready for a flurry of furniture pieces.  I'm doing a makeover on my dining room and all of the furniture is getting painted and banged up, Shabby Chic style.

I just finished working on this little console table that I got at Target a couple of years ago.

 

I painted, I think, four coats to get this completely covered.  I had a quart of paint that I bought last year and never used so I pulled that out and used about 1/4 of it.  I'm a Lowe's girl so I usually end up with Olympic or Valspar paint.  This one is an Olympic color called Dogwood Blossom.  It's a creamy white with just a slight tint to it.  This will be the color I end up using for my dining chairs and all of the other furniture that'll be in this room.

After painting, I distressed with my orbital sander.  Then I added a cute knob that I found at Hobby Lobby.  I'd planned on using this knob and it's mate on another project, but it just didn't work out.  Luckily, it's is the same color green as my little desk, which is basically in the dining room itself.  Oh, I also lined the drawer with some cute scrapbook paper that has the same green.  Look at me, gettin' all matchy-matchy!

Here she is sportin' her new duds.

*I'm really good at photographing my Etsy stuff, but I just stink at shooting rooms and larger pieces like these.  I'm really trying to get better with it and have even started using a tripod to try and steady things a bit.  I know there a ton of tips on shooting rooms out there, I just need to carve out some time to study them and practice.

Linking to:
Transformation Thurs @ The Shabby Chic Cottage
Hookin' Up With HOH @ House of Hepworths 
Show & Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home 
Friday's Unfolded @ Stuff & Nonsense 
Furniture Feature Friday @ Miss Mustard Seed 
Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest 
Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous
Think Pink Sunday @ Flamingo Toes 
Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch 
Mad Skillz Party @ Mad In Crafts 
Making the World Cuter Monday @ Making the World Cuter

Some Spring Cloche Love

 yippee!

About a month ago, I was reading Kathy's (Creative Home Expressions) post on all of her cloches.   Her first photo was of one of those dome clocks that she'd turned into a cloche.  

I had something similar that I'd picked up last year.  I'd painted it in ORB and stuck a fake plant in it.

What I especially liked about Kathy's was that she'd decoupaged scrapbook paper to the base, adding visual dimension to it.  Of course, I set out to copy her right away.

I did a makeover on my cloche and I also made this ugly one over.

 

Here they are again, all gussied up and looking all pretty for me. 

 paint color is Heirloom White by Rustoleum

You may (or may not) remember that I dressed up an earlier cloche with some scrapbook paper.  It helped to cover the screw that showed after we screwed the cheese dome base to the candlestick.  Awesome fix!

If you've never tried decoupage, you should.  These instructions from How Does She are perfect.  You should go on over and take a peek.

Linking to:

POPP @ Domestically Speaking

Cheap Thrills Thurs @ Black Kat Designs 

Crafty Soiree @ Yesterday on Tuesday 

Hookin' Up With HOH @ House of Hepworths 

Everything but the Kitchen Sink @ A Little Knick-Knack

Simply Link @ Simply Designing
Show & Tell Sat @ Be Different, Act Normal 
Weekend Wrap-up @ Tatertots & Jello 
Nifty Thrifty Sunday @ Nifty Thrifty Things
Just Something I Whipped Up @ The Girl Creative 
Sugar & Spice @ seven-thirty-three
Whatever Goes Weds @ Someday Crafts 

FINALLY Finished!

Today I'm sharing a project that I've been working on for about 2 weeks.  It's a magnetic fridge calendar that I made after being inspired by the ones that Jenn, from Clean & Scentsible makes. 

Here's my February calendar.

Because my studio is such a disaster, I ended up buying everything I needed for this.  Thankfully, I was able to get most of it on the cheap.  I got most of my stickers from the dollar bins at Target.  My chipboard letters that spell FEBRUARY also came from Target and were only 99 cents a pack.  They also had some cute packs of Valentine papers that I grabbed.  I found the bottle-caps at Hobby Lobby and I think they were about $6 for 25 or so. 

I bought some round wood chips to use for some of the spots.  They're usually a little over a buck for five or six of them, which isn't too bad, but since I'm planning on making one of these for each month, that might get a bit pricey.  Good thing I found one of these at Goodwill for $1.  SCORE!

Jenn has a list of supplies that you could use to make these and she's got a tutorial.  I might do one myself for the March calendar, but in the meantime, check Jenn's out.

Linking to:

SNS @ Funky Junk Interiors

A Makeover Gets A Makeover

Back in August, I blogged about this cloche.

I got a little sidetracked on my beachy bathroom makeover and still haven't gotten around to it.  Now that it's winter, I don't feel so beachy anymore and so I'm not sure if that's still the route I'm going to take with this room.  

Anyway, this pretty little thing has gotten a makeover of its own.  Etsy has been really good to me and I've been selling a lot of my stuff.  I like to keep a certain number of items in my shop and I almost can't keep up with what's been going out.  I've got tons of stuff waiting to be made over and listed, but some of it needs a little more work than others things.  Since this baby was already put together and painted, I decided to change it up a bit and list it.  I went over the white with a creamy gray and then distressed it so that some of the white would show through.  Then I used a little glaze on top of that.  I decided to try something new and added some complementing scrapbook paper to the base. 

 

Nice, right?  

It's for sale in my shop, like right now.  Go on, you know you want it.  :-)

Linking to:

Sat Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Sundae Scoop @ i heart naptime 

Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch 

Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple 

Remodelaholic's Anonymous  

We Did It Weds @ Sew Much Ado 

BTB @ Savvy Southern Style 

All Things Inspired @ All Things Heart and Home 

Make it Yours Day @ My Backyard Eden 

Power of Paint Party @ Domestically Speaking  

Sunday Showcase @ Under the Table and Dreaming 

Amaze Me Monday @ Dittle Dattle  

Market Yourself Monday @ Sumo's Sweet Stuff  

Take a Look Tues @ Sugar Bee Craft Edition  

Get Your Craft On @ Today's Creative Blog  

Crafty Mondays @ The Tootsie Wootsie  

Feature Yourself Friday @ Fingerprints on the Fridge 

Favorite Things Friday - No. 3

A couple of weeks ago, Han and I were at Target where she found a cheap felt advent tree in the Dollar Spot.  She thought it was the cutest thing and wanted one so that she could count down to Christmas.  How in the world was it that my almost-twelve-year-old had never heard of an advent calendar?  I had to do something about that and buying a cheap felt tree wasn't gonna cut it.

Because of her age, I didn't want to do the whole "treat for each day" thing.  I just wanted her to be able to count down.  The cutest way to do that would be for her to have a set of countdown blocks.  

Aren't they adorable???  This was one of the most fun Christmas crafts I've done.  It was so much fun deciding what papers to use and it was so gratifying to see the awkward looking block transform as I sanded the edges of the papers off.

I got my blocks from Michael's for 99 cents each.  I've also seen them at Hobby Lobby for around the same price.

I painted my blocks first and then followed these instructions for making the blocks.  Sadly, I do not have a cutter so I had to use stickers for my numbers.  Maybe I'll be using vinyl next year.  Fingers crossed.


Here are two of my favorite things from last week's link party.

This cinnamon and heart garland from Sarah @ Modern Country Style.

So cute and I bet it smells amazing!




Next up are these amazing DIY vintage Christmas blocks by Kaitlyn @ The Birds Nest.

These are up next on my list.  I can use the rest of  the stickers I had leftover from my countdown blocks.  I don't have sheet music, but I do have some vintage sheet music scrapbook paper that I got from Hobby Lobby.  Perfect!

If you were featured, please feel free to grab a button.

<center><a href="http://thespeckleddog.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaT2G24-kqjR0IijbfQH3Nww-bEez2G4Hn1-yp5kigZqgCyY-HI7F4g9iSIKubugWoPa6Aii2iJ9wD23n_4v2nKVj_zcGTerDGZZRJsneyChiTazBPGmMzo_aUtAUX6toW4vrhMQyShxY/s1600/blogbutton.gif" /></a></center>

OK, it's your turn.  What are some of your favorite things?

Rules:

There's really only one.  Please, please, please link back to the party so that others can join in.  Also, it'd be really nice of you if you could visit a few of the other linkups and leave a nice comment.

Linking to:

Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous
Fancy This Friday @ Truly Lovely 
SNS @ Funky Junk Interiors 
Show & Tell Sat @ Be Different, Act Normal 
Market Yourself Mon @ Sumo's Sweet Stuff 
Glam Party @ Giggles, Glitz & Glam

Just a Little Bat(ty)

 

Isn't he cute?  He's supposed to be a card.  You're supposed to put a little message on his belly and then fold his wings closed.  I saw the card in a magazine and thought he would be cute just as a little bat.

Go here for instructions on how to make one for yourself.

Linking to:

Fall Link Party @ Tatertots & Jello

Boo to You

I got this frame from GW a few weeks ago for $1.  

Even though there was no glass, I was planning to paint it a pretty aqua color with maybe a black wash to accentuate the details.  But then I started doing Halloween projects.  In the end, I turned they kinda ugly green frame into this cute Halloween sign.

I painted the frame, covered one side of the cardboard with scrapbook paper and then made cutouts of the letters and glued those on.  Then I used one of these (finally, I used one!) to finish it off.

Cute, cute, cute!!

Linking to:
Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Market Yourself Monday @ Sumo's Sweet Stuff 
Making the World Cuter Monday @ Making the World Cuter
Craft-O-Maniac  
Anti-Procrastination Tues @ New Nostalgia 
DIY Project Parade @ The DIY Showoff  
Get Your Craft on Tues @ Today's Creative Blog 
Make It Yours Day @ My Backyard Eden 
Upcycled Awesome @ The T-Shirt Diaries  
Show and Tell @ Blue Cricket Design 
Whatever Goes Weds @ Someday Crafts  
Under $100 Linky Party @ Beyond the Picket Fence 
Halloween Week @ Somewhat Simple   
Fall Link Party @ Tatertots & Jello 
Feature Yourself Friday @ Fingerprints on the Fridge  





 

Hooooo are you?

Ok, one more... for now, anyway.  There's still Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentines Day, St Patty's and all those other holidays that call for more scrap paper hoops. Go here for the tutorial for the basic hoops.

I've been sick this week and haven't really done much in the project dept.  I finally finished this little fella tonight because I was tired or lying in bed and sitting around, not getting anything accomplished.

P.S. - I've still been posting this week even though I've been sick, so if you see any typos (there are several, according to Charles ), please cut me some slack this time.  :-)

P.P.S - If you haven't entered my giveaway for a $40 CSN Stores gift card, what are you waiting for??  There aren't a million ways you have to enter this one.  All you have to do is be a follower and then just link up (it's a linky contest entry).

Hope everyone has a great weekend! 


Linking to:
Get Your Halloween On @ Sawdust and Paper Scraps
Get Your Craft on Thursday @ Life as Lori 
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors 
Style Feature Sat @ Perfectly Imperfect 
Scraptastic Sat @ Young and Crafty
Show & Tell Sat @ Be Different, Act Normal  
Saturday Soiree @ a little lovely
Sunday Showcase Party @ Under the Table and Dreaming  
Sundae Scoop @ i heart naptime
Just Something I Whipped Up @ The Girl Creative 
Motivate Me Monday @ Keeping it Simple 
Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch 
Craft-O-Maniac Monday 
Making the World Cuter Monday @ Making the World Cuter 
Get Your Halloween On @ Sawdust and Paper Scraps 

Get Your Hand Outta the Cookie Jar

I bought this a few weeks ago for a buck-fifty.

I knew what a wanted to do with it, but then I lost the top.  I washed the bottom and it sat in my kitchen being all sad and lonely for about three weeks.  Then the other day, I was cleaning the back of my car out, and there it was... the top.  This was another of those speedy projects that I love to do.  I just painted the top, wet my paper, glued it to the top and then used a little Mod Podge to make it all stick.  I decided to paint the handle red t make it pop.  Plus, it matches my Kitchen Aid.  

Here's my after

Those cookies are a Martha recipe that someone linked up to Foodie Friday last week.  I'll be featuring those this week so make sure you stop back by on Friday.  


Linking to:
Transformation Thursday's @ The Shabby Chic Cottage
Get Your Craft on Thursday @ Life as Lori 
Under $100 Link Party @ Beyond the Picket Fence 
Strut Your Stuff Thurs @ Somewhat Simple 
Everything but the Kitchen Sink @ A Little Knick Nack
Creative Chick Parade - Day Five   
Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring 
Look at Me @ It's Fun to Craft
Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous  
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors 
Style Feature Sat @ Perfectly Imperfect 
Scraptastic Sat @ Young and Crafty
Saturday Soiree @ a little lovely  
Sunday Showcase Party @ Under the Table and Dreaming

Sundae Scoop @ i heart naptime
Just Something I Whipped Up @ The Girl Creative 
DIY Project Parade @ The DIY Showoff 
Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch 
Upcycled Awesome @ The T-Shirt Diaries 

My New Obsession

Yes, more hoops.  I can't stop thinking about them.  There are just so many possibilities.  I finally had to just jot down a list of ideas for them.  

we are not apples

Pumpkins DO have leaves, but I don't think they look like those.  I still like them, though.

Then there's this little fella.  So cute!!

I've had a lot of great feedback on these and I'm really pleased that so many people like them.  I hope I don't end up boring you guys to pieces with these because I've got several more Fall and Halloween ones knocking around in my head.  

*** Go here for the tutorial.

Linking to these awesome parties! 

Three or More Tuesday
Get Your Craft on Tuesday @ Today's Creative Blog

Fall Festival Week Three @ This Blessed Nest
Under $100 Link Party @ Beyond the Picket Fence
Countdown to Fall Party @ Domestically Speaking  
Curly Q's Fall Link Party
Halloween Week @ Somewhat Simple 


Featured @
 

BOO!

Until the past couple of years, Halloween was my absolute favorite holiday to decorate for.  Then I was bitten my the Christmas bug and now that's my new favorite.

I still love decorating for Halloween though!  I had a few ideas tumbling around in my head and was planning to get to them eventually, but then I read Sandra's (from Sawdust and Paper Scraps) post today that she'll be hosting a Halloween related linky party tomorrow.  That's all it took for me to spend the WHOLE day working on Halloween projects. 

My first project is a spin-off from the project I blogged about yesterday.  

I used paper scraps that I had leftover from this project and the hoops for 59 cents each, bringing the total for this project to around $1.75.  Can't beat that!

***  Go here for the tutorial.

Don't forget to stop by tomorrow and link up to Foodie Friday.  This week's theme is a potluck so you can link up whatever kind of recipe you want.

Linking up to these awesome parties.

DIY Fall Festival @ The DIY Show Off
Everything Halloween Party @ Sawdust and Paper Scraps
Three or More Tuesday
Get Your Craft on Tuesday @ Today's Creative Blog

New Twist on Decorating With Embroidery Hoops

I'm sure you've seen this, one of the cutest ways to add pops of color and charm to your walls; fabric embroidery hoops.

image from little pumpkin grace

image from the haystack needle

I've done these myself and had them hanging in our guest bedroom until we started using that room for storage (gotta have somewhere for all of my thrifting stuff!).

Earlier today, I had the idea of using my hoops and fabric to decorate for fall.  After dinner, I went up to my studio to go through my fabric and pick out something suitable for Fall.  Right away, I hit a roadblock...  I don't have any Fall colored fabrics.   But you know what I do have???  Scrapbook paper!  Tons of scrapbook paper.  I even have some Fall-ish scrapbook paper.  Hmmm...

Here's what I did.

Here's how you can do it.

Supplies:

• Various sized embroidery hoops
• Various scrapbook papers or card-stock
• a pen
• some scissors
• a pan of water
• hair dryer (optional)

1 - Separate the hoops.  

2 - On the back of your paper, trace the inside of the inside hoop.  Cut out    your circle, adding about 1/2 inch allowance around it.

3 - Submerge paper in water and leave it until it relaxes and the edges stop curling.

4 - Remove paper and shake as much water off as you can.

5 - Lay the paper on top of the interior hoop.

6 - Unscrew clasp on the outer hoop as far and you can and stretch the hoop over the papered hoop.

7 - Tighten clasp.

8 - (optional) Use hair dryer to dry any excess water and then let piece dry completely.

9 - Trim off any excess paper.


Do you know what's so great about using scrapbook paper for these instead of fabric?  Scrapbook paper is cheaper and there's more to choose from!  More coordinating papers!  The possibilities with these are endless.  Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day..  all of 'em!


I'll be linking up to these awesome parties!

DIY Show Off Fall Festival
Three or More Tuesday 
Tutorial Tuesdays 
Get Your Craft on Tuesday @ Today's Creative Blog

Hold the Phone!

I'm so pleased with this project because I made it quickly AND it only cost me 80 cents to make (not counting the tiny amount of paint and mod podge I used). 

I went to GW yesterday to donate some clothes (7 bags, people!!) and as usual, I drove around front and went in to give them some more of my $$$.  I found this charging station for 50 cents.

I was planning to leave it as is, but after I got home and started looking at it, I thought, "Why not dress it up a little?"  I planned to make things easy and just color the edges black with a Sharpie before putting the paper on, but that didn't work out so well.  I ended up just going around the edges a few times with a small brush and some black paint.  I'll have you know that I just recently realized that I don't have to paint the whole object if I'm just gonna cover most of it in paper... can you believe that???

Anywho, it took me forever to decide what paper to use and I finally ended up choosing a sheet that I'd picked up on clearance at Hobby Lobby for 30 cents.

This is the end result, which I love, love love!

Linking to:
We Did It Weds @ Sew Much Ado
Power of Paint Party @ Domestically Speaking 
Show and Tell @ Blue Cricket Design 
Whatever Goes Weds @ Someday Crafts 
Make it Yours Day @ My Backyard Eden 
Show us What You're Workin' With @ Me and My Bucket 
Creative Therapy @ Life in the Pitts 
Look What I Made @ Creations by Kara 
Get Your Craft On @ Life As Lori 
Under $100 Link Party @ Beyond the Picket Fence 
Creative Share @ Trendy Treehouse 
Feature Yourself Friday @ Fingerprints on the Fridge
Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous 
Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest
Fab Friday Finds @ The Simpler Life 
Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Market Yourself Monday @ Sumo's Sweet Stuff 
MMM @ C.R.A.F.T. 
DIY Project Parade @ The DIY Showoff 
Just Something I Whipped Up @ The Girl Creative 
Motivate Me Monday @ Keeping it Simple
Twice Owned Tuesday @ House of Grace 
Make it 4 Monday @ Cottage Instincts 
Check ME Out Sat @ A Vision to Remember 
Creative Chick Parade - Day One 

Short & Sweet

This is a teeny tiny post for a small project.

I've been grabbing these wall candle thingies whenever I see them.  They're usually between $1-$2. 

I glued some wood ornament pieces on them and then painted them with a little white spray paint.  To remedy that big ole gaping hole where I'm guessing a mirror used to be (ick!), I glued some scrapbook paper in.  Since my studio is the only place I can get away with something pretty and white, that's where these are a-hangin'!

you'll have to excuse the crooked glue job I did on those ornaments

Linking to:

Sundae Scoop

Little Birdies Get New Clothes

I got these at GW years ago and managed to sand the shellac off of them before they got lost in the garage for awhile.  

sad birdies 

To help them, I mixed a few colors of Folk Art paint together and painted them; then added some cute paper.  Charles made new bases for them since one is still out in the garage somewhere.

 happy birdies

Linking to:
Power of Paint Party @ Domestically Speaking
Creative Therapy @ Life in the Pitts 
Show and Tell @ Blue Cricket Design 
Get Your Craft On Thursday @ Life as Lori
Hookin' Up With HOH @ House of Hepworths
Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous