Before & After Mantle

 Our mantle has looked just like this for almost two years.

Just. Like. This.

Before

Except for the occasional dusting (and a 3 week Christmas break) nothing has been moved an inch.  I'm bad to leave things in one spot way too long.

I will say I think I'm getting better about it.  For one thing, nosing around other people's houses via their blog can be very inspiring.  Staging pictures for my own blog forces me to try new things, too.

Finally, I made some changes to the mantle. 

After

 

Which do you like best?

Please, please, please don't say you like the "before" mantle best -- unless you really mean it.  I don't want to have to change it back!

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Meet Char @ Crap I've Made

If you're following me as a Crafting with the Stars contestant then you know each of us are paired up with a "star".  Lucky for me my star is Char @ Crap I've Made.  

Isn't she cute?  She's funny and easy-going, too. 

  

And, I'm here to tell you, you really have to make a trip to her blog and check it out.  

You're going to find all sorts of cool stuff including this one tutorial everyone needs to bookmark...

Char has a tutorial for hemming jeans (leaving the original stitching) that will knock your socks off!  I'm seriously impressed and you will be, too.  You can't even tell it but she took more than 2 inches off this pair and they still look just like the day they were born.  

Don't believe it? Check it out *here* and tell Char I said "hi"!

Oh, and don't forget to vote...
You've only got until tomorrow night at 10pm MST!

I can't tell you which project is mine but maybe you can guess.  You should leave me a comment telling me which one you think it is!!!!

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Blog Hop with Gail @ My Repurposed Life

I am so excited to be part of a very unique blog hop.

Gail @My Repurposed Life 

and 

MeganDVD @ Beauty in the Attempt 

are hosting 

“The Bold and the Beautiful-your blog reviewed”.

There's a great GIVEAWAY, too.

One lucky winner will receive a premade blog design of their very own, that will be customized by one of the great ladies, over at 
Designer Blogs! 

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So, here's what I'd love for you to do.

Please, please, please take a look around my blog, check out the layout, pages, buttons,  sidebar and gadgets. I would love for you to gently critique my blog. I’m hoping you will leave me some positive feedback about my blog. It would be great if you could give me constructive criticism but be sure to tell me what you like about my blog too! Do you like my pictures? Does my blog load quickly for you? How about the font?  All tips and tidbits welcome!

You are welcome to join the party, it starts Thursday night and is open for a week.

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Pretty Utility Cabinet

Oh my goodness!
  
My partner, Char @ Crap I've Made, and I are still in the 
Crafting with the Stars competition!  Not by a landslide, mind you -- those are some kind of talented gals.  You should go check them all out! 

And now I can share my first project with you all.

Surprise!

I love doors -- all kinds of doors and Habitat's Restore is always full to the rafters with 'em.  I picked up a pair of $15 bi-fold louvered doors to made a utility cabinet that is pretty to look at and hides all my necessary uglies.

 I took one of the doors and flipped it upside down.  Using a jigsaw, I cut the decorative top edge and the little "peek-a-boo" hole.  The cabinet body was made from 1x10's and the shelves were arranged to accommodate all my cleaning supplies.

  

I added a few pieces of scrap wood trim and a plastic Goodwill doo-dad to jazz it up a bit.

Don't you think you could arrange the shelves any old way so you could store just about anything in it?

 A new coat of paint, a good distressing, a little glaze and there you have it!  No one will ever guess your dirty little secret... 




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*To see the PARTIES I link to and to join in the fun,
CLICK HERE
or check out my sweet hostesses on my sidebar!

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Please *click here* and take a look around
my Etsy Store...

 

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Silver-ized Bird Nest

I didn't even have to come up with the idea myself.  My smarty pants friend Vicki came up with this one for me... she's a mental health saver.

I found this abandoned bird nest in my yard.  Except for the fact that is was falling apart -- it was perfect.

I drizzled hot glue all over the back side to stabilize it...

and coated it with several hundred coats of silver spray paint.  The more, the better.

It couldn't have been easier.  

Okay, there was the unfortunate demise of a favorite sock I tossed over the light bulb to soften the light in the photos....

There is no word in the English language to describe the smell of a burning dirty sock.

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*To see the PARTIES I link to and to join in the fun,
CLICK HERE
or check out my sweet hostesses on my sidebar!

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If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

The World's Longest Ongoing Quilt Project

Okay, here's the deal.  I started this painstakingly intricate child sized quilt top seventeen years ago.  No kidding.  I can't believe I'm telling it but...there you have it. 

It's been in my shed.  I'm not kidding about that either.  I held my breath when I opened the box it was in, hoping it was still in one piece.  I designed the paper doll and all her clothes on notebook paper and had stored the sketches with the quilt top.  Even though it had been years everything was fine.  I know, I can hardly believe it myself.

 

  

I have to wonder why I stopped working on it.  I really don't remember.  I had put so much time into it -- planning every detail, hand dying some of the fabrics, making those tiny (microscopic) buttons.

 

I'd written a little poem I wanted to embroidery in that blank space I have left to fill.  I'm no writer (you know) but it was sort of cute...

Little girl with paper friends,

Quietly in a corner pretends.

Tales of childhood dreams are told,

Cutting out memories as they unfold.

So, here's the plan.  I'm posting about my half finished quilt and hopefully you'll leave sweet comments (because you guys always leave the best comments) and I'll feel encouraged to finish it.   

The world's longest ongoing quilt project.  I feel better already. 

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*To see the PARTIES I link to and to join in the fun,
CLICK HERE
or check out my sweet hostesses on my sidebar!

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Please *click here* and take a look around
my Etsy Store...

 

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!