PROGRESS.. FINALLY!

I HAVE BEEN THE ULTIMATE SLACKER ON THIS WHOLE BLOGGING THING. I STARTED THIS BLOG TO TRY IT OUT BY POSTING MY PROJECTS BUT I THINK I NEED TO POST MORE THAN THAT BECAUSE LIFE KEEPS GETTING IN THE WAY OF MY SPARE TIME :) .....

BECAUSE OF THAT, I WILL BE REWORKING THE BLOG SO I CAN TRY TO POST SOMETHING ONCE A WEEK. THAT BEING SAID, HERE ARE THE STEPS TO ME FINALLY BRINGING MY WINE CRATE TABLE TO LIFE! JUST WAITING TO SEAL IT SO I CAN POST THE BEFORE AND AFTER PIC.......... HOPE YOU ENJOY AND I HOPE IT SPARKS SOME IDEAS FOR YOU TOO :)

I SET UP MY LAYOUT.......

THEN IT IS PREP TIME..... ( PLANE THE WOOD AND CUT IT DOWN TO SIZE)

MAKING A MESS WHILE I'M AT IT.............................

SAND DOWN & CUT GROOVES / GLUED WITH LIQUID NAILS......

IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO GET THE NERVE TO APPLY THE STAIN. EVEN THOUGH I TESTED A FEW PIECES OF SCRAP WOOD FOR THE RIGHT COLOR, I WAS STILL TERRIFIED IT WOULD TURN OUT HORRIBLE AFTER ALL THAT WORK!

HERE IS THE TABLE PRE STAIN AND THEN HALF STAINED (IT ADJUSTS TO ADD A LEAF.... HENCE THE GAP)

AFTER STAINING HALF, I WAS TORN. I LOVED BOTH SIDES! THE DARKER SIDE MATCHED BETTER WITH MY HOUSE SO THE DARK SIDE IT WAS...THAT AND I WAS KINDA STUCK NOW. :)

NEEDLESS TO SAY, I AM EXTREMELY HAPPY WITH THE OUTCOME (PRE POLYURETHANE) AND I CANT WAIT TO SEE IT IN THE HOUSE WITH THE WINE BOTTLE LIGHTS ABOVE! AND OF COURSE POST THE FINAL BEFORE AND AFTER FOR YOU (WHOEVER HAPPENS TO READ THIS)

INVITATIONS

Today's inspiration for you is to try making your own invitations. Whether you have a Birth announcement or a party of some sort. Take your own pictures (they don't have to be perfect.. just perfect for you ) and find an editing program you like and layout your pictures scrapbook style. Insert text and shapes to add to it. Modern style is very easy to do and very '"in" right now. I personally use Photo shop but here is a link to some free programs if you don't have one.

http://www.guidetoartschools.com/tips-and-tools/free-photo-editing

I'm not really going into depth with this post.. just wanted to give you something to spark your creativity. Here are two invitations I made. Note: The birthday invitation pictures were taken with an iPhone so you don't need fancy equipment for it to turn out the way you want :)

Project Wine Crate Part 2

So my table FINALLY came in!!! After waiting 2 long months, I am ready to tear into this table and get it looking gorgeous! I have never done anything like this before so I am taking baby steps. As of right now, I just have everything set up to get a visual of what to do next. The first thing was spreading the panels out so they don't look too busy.

I'm also going to use some of them on a desk built by my grandfather so it matches. I am a firm believer that you should make your house fit your personality. And if you know me, the things I like are constantly changing...which means.... so is my house! So here are the pictures of the begining phase .. just need to make a trip to Home Depot to get my glue, extra wood, stain and polyurethane. I'll keep you posted on this project next week :)!!

MORE THAN A MOROCCAN ROOM...

This room will be the future room of a special little girl I have yet to meet. I am on the road to becoming a foster mom and this room is on the road to becoming as bright and colorful as it can be.

This boring ceiling will turn into a fabric "tent" with string lights so she can forget her worries for a while and gaze at the "stars".

Plain white walls have turned into

bright yellow walls
with a shimmering bronze stencil

so she will have a little sparkle in her life.

Also, a colorful chandelier, lanterns, books, and a chest with dress up clothes. Oh and let's not forget..... a lot of love and understanding from me :)

Whoever you are, I am working hard to make you a great escape during this troubled time in your life. I hope you love it while you are with me.

Project Wine Crate

For those of you who don’t know, I …LOVE…WINE. I am no wine connoisseur but I will just keep taste testing until I get there :)

So my love of wine has brought the idea of making something out of its crates. Why let them go to waste?
I have come across many blogs and websites that give wonderful ideas to reuse the crates, but I kept waiting for the perfect one for me. I decided on a dining table along with hanging cut wine bottles above the table for lighting . I am going to cut the panels like planks of flooring and lay it out as the top of my table. As for the lighting, I am cutting the bottoms off wine bottles and hanging them like a pendant light. Here are some pictures that I came across to help you envision this. I hope it turns out the way I picture it in my head…we shall see!