Shades of Blue

OKay, so there is this blog called Better After, have you heard of it?  I love checking out what others have done to their projects.  In fact a few of my projects have popped up on that blog also.  But today when I was doing a catch up of all the before and after projects, I was so drawn to all the blue ones!  Remember how much I LOVE turquoise?  Well, all shades of blue draw me in (notice the theme in my projects?!).

Anyways, here are a few of the eye candy I have seen from this site that I wanted to share.  If you click on the link, it will take you to their before and after picture.

This dressing table is oozing with style!

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If I ever get bored of my little silver tea set (or should I say daughter's tea set) I know exactly what I am going to do with it!

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What a fun retro looking chair.  From a basic dull look, to SHAZ-AM!

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A mirror was replaced, and made into this beauty with blue.

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Can you believe this housed an old tv?!  GORGEOUS!

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Wow!  Talk about adding a touch of colour!  Way to be brave.

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This room is so calming, I want one.  This room was a dreary room, turned blue, and later pink.  I think I prefer the blue, but both makeovers are so chic.

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This blue is the PERFECT blue.  It's so soft looking, and what a cute piece of furniture!

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Wow, wall texturing!  It looks fantastic!  It also looks like a lot of work. 

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Adding pattern and design give this piece a second look.

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Again, a brave soul having such a brightly coloured piece.  Wouldn't this look great outdoors!

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What a cute LITTLE chair!  I would like to have a sit.

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I love Better After, and I find so many great transformations on it.  The blue ones always POP for me.  If you haven't heard of Better After, go check it out and tell me what you think!

Coming Up...

So I have a few projects that have been in the works, but have been pushed aside to do other things (laundry, lunches, swimming lessons, guitar lessons, homework, taking a break...).  But, I thought I would show you what I am up to:

Glass tile!  I love the look of this stuff.  I have been wanting to finish "something" for awhile now, and it seemed that glass tile was perfect for this project.  And guess what... it was on SALE!  I am getting closer to finishing, I just have to buckle down and do it!

Second, this has been a summer project that is still in the works, this may have to be a 3 part project, but it's coming too!  So don't dismay, I will share the goods as soon as I get my butt in gear!!

As for now, enjoy your day, the weather here is glorious!!

Hutch Project Part 2

I decided I wanted to have my project on my site, so I am reposting it. Thanks to Jen for having me as a guest at Tater tots and Jello back in August.  Check it out here.

It all started with me being inspired by a fellow blogger, scouring my basement to find something to makeover, and I came across this:

It was the hutch for a dresser I bought off Kijiji for my daughter's room.  Whoever painted it this terribly streaky brown must be controlled!  But I snatched it for it's potential.  Although I have to say it sat in my daughters room (attached to the dresser) for a year before I got sick of the ugliness and moved it to the basement.  I had plans to paint it white, but.... excuses, excuses...

Anyways, with new hope for this piece I cut it in half on a table saw.  The piece in the front ended up becoming a bench for my kids playhouse.  You can see it here.  I am focusing on the piece in the back now.  I knew exactly what I wanted it for.

I primed it.  I can't even tell you with what because it was just something my husband had.  It's latex at least.

I used a jig saw for the first time, and cut the side to make it prettier! 

Then I painted the inside of the boxes blue.  This is a can of paint I had leftover.  I love the cool feel of the colour.

I love bead board as I am sure lots of you do too.  So I had to add some of that.  I used a table saw to cut the pieces to fit the area I wanted.

I glued the bead board on with No More Nails Glue.

I wanted my shelf (I just gave it away!) to have hooks, but I couldn't find any that were cheap enough for my liking... until I went in the hardware aisle at Dollarama!  They were perfect!  And only $1.25 for 2.

I painted them with black spray paint.  The kind you don't need primer for (that's my kind all right!).

See how much prettier they are now!

Then I painted everywhere else on the shelf with just a matte latex stark white colour.

Ready?

Ta Da!

Now, here is the part I haven't finished yet, see the white line at the bottom under the bead board.  I have to caulk it so you don't see the gap.  And besides the fact that I haven't hung her up yet is also incomplete... but hey, that won't stop me from taking a few shots of how it will be.

Can I just say, this is no small piece of furniture!  I had to use every arm and neck muscle to hoist this up on my dresser to get a few pictures.  Needless to say it will be secured to the wall into the studs!

So a reminder of the start:

This...

Became...

A bench for my kids playhouse,

And...

A shelf for their bedroom.

So, does anybody have a hutch they feel like chopping in half now?

Decorate with Nature

So, I am going thriftier!  Really??  Can that happen?  Of course, want to try?

Look at these fun crafts you can make to decorate your house for the Fall using the great outdoors!

Oh, oh, oh... I have some twigs in my yard!!

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How rustic of you!  Very unique!

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Do you have any berries in your neck of the woods?  I think I might try this, it's so cute!

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Rocks, hmmm, I think I just might be able to find some around here somewhere (only all around me!)

This is so (I think I say cute too much) CUTE!

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That's it!  This is way too cool.  And cheap!!  I have to make this.  It's way better than the wreath I have right now.

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Could those leaves be any more the perfect colour?!

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A pinecone garland?!  Oh, I am getting giddy.  I'll have one of these too!

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Nuts!  And after you're done you can eat them!  haha, is that gross?

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It's apple picking season!  Why not grab some extras and use them for  display?  It looks so fresh.

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Go clip a few strands of wheat!

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Gather up what's left of your summer flowers, and bring them indoors.  These flowers are artfully displayed as pumpkins!

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Another attractive centrepiece.  

"Why where did you get that lovely centrepiece?"

"Oh, just my backyard!"

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It's just a twig!  But look what it can do for you!

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So what do you see that you like?  

I am definitely leaning towards that leafy wreath, like I said I really need a new one, and free is the best!

Are you using nature this season?

Guest Blogging

Today you can find me over at FINDING FABULOUS!

Check it out, you may find something out about me that you may not have already known!

Thanks again Jane!

Check out Jane's blog for... well her mission statement captures it perfectly:

Our Philosophy here at FINDING FABULOUS... We're on a mission, finding fabulous design...for less, and without breakin' the bank! Finding Fabulous also features Momprenuer businesses and on-line boutiques that offer unique often handmade products! So come on in, stay a while and get ready to save with $tyle! 

Take a look at Finding Fabulous.  You may just find something you like!

Best Playdough Recipe Ever

My nephew had a birthday this weekend, and I wanted to make him something again.  Last year I painted him a picture of a car with his name on the bumper (he is obsessed with cars!)

I can't believe a year has gone by already.  This year I wanted to make him something again, but not as time consuming.

So I made him playdough!

When I first moved into this neighbourhood, one of the neighbours came over and gave us some homemade playdough, and the recipe to go along with it.  I LOVE this recipe!  Especially the fact that it involves Kool-aid, and makes it smell so good!

Here is what you need:

1 cup white flour

1/4 cup salt

2 tsp cream of tarter

1 cup water

1 tbsp oil

1pkg Kool-aid

1.  First mix four, salt, cream of tarter, and kool-aid in a medium pot.

2.  Add water and oil.

3.  Turn on medium heat.

4.  Cook and stir, until mixture forms a ball.

5.  Take out and knead dough on lightly floured surface.

6.  Store in (CUTE) airtight containers.

DONE!

p.s.  Smell the playdough, it is wonderful!!!  So good that I had to save a little and make myself a glass!

ENJOY!