Throwing Our Coats on the Furniture is Getting Boring

I received these coat hooks from Lenny's Nana last year and they just sat in my hall closet, feeling sad and lonely. Our coats were usually flung on the chair facing the front door.

After a few coats of spray paint...

And some Mod Podge and Paper...

Can't wait to hang them up!

When the husband saw them last night, he said "Oh! These came out so nice! I love squares!"

Oh dear...

He loves squares, and I love circles. Should I be worried? Are we incompatible?

Spooky Sale at Jo-Ann's!

It's been difficult, but I've been curbing my Jo-Ann's cravings because I knew there would be a fantastic sale beginning today. So, just a heads up to some of the offers: $.99 All McCall's Patterns, 60-percent off Blizzard Fleece prints and solids and Snuggle Flannel prints and Cozy Flannel solids, 40-percent off papercrafting supplies (of course, it excludes Cricut and Yudu machines and cartridges), BOGO Thread and that's just a little sample of the sale!

So, what am I doing here? Off to Jo-Ann's!

Mod Podged Pumpkin

Absolutely not my idea at all, I will say that. I've seen it on a few blogs this season. But I did want to show the process here because, damn was it simple!

I found the small pumpkin at Joann's for about $3. All of their Halloween stuff is 50-percent off! Woo!

I have a confession: I hate the color orange. I don't know why, but I've never gotten a feel for it. It just always looks tacky. Oh, I don't mind the little bit here and there, but the color itself just turns me off completely. So I was glad to have a way to cover it, but still make it holiday appropriate.

I spray painted the stem with some light blue, but it didn't really want to take, so I gave up.

Using one piece of scrapbook paper cut into strips of varying lengths and widths, the Mod Podging commenced!

Tip: I found it easier to wet the strips with water before Mod Podging the backs. Also, I spread a layer of Mod Podge on the pumpkin for extra hold.

(And, that would be Miss Beth investigating.)

After covering all the (evil) orange with the paper, I added a few more coats of Mod Podge.

The nice thing is, I've used the same paper in my dining room as a mat for pictures, so I was very happy to have some dining room decor.

(See previous post to see the finished product.)

UPDATE: I used some silver ribbon and hot glue to finish off the badly-painted stem.

Pottery Barn, eat my Mod Podge!

I can't rationalize spending the amount of money Pottery Barn would like me to. Maybe it's jealousy. Maybe it's the pretentious reputation the store has. Maybe it's the episode of "Friends" in which Phoebe hates Pottery Barn. But I've never been a fan. Sure, I'll look at the catalog, but in my mind, I'm constantly saying "I could make that!" for some of their items, especially decor.

Last week, Apartment Therapy was looking for freelance writers from my area and its application included a sample column. So, I had the idea to do a weekly column taking accessories from stores I believed were charging too much, and writing tutorials on making similar products yourself. Not that it'll pay enough to quit my day job, but it's a nice project it's a great project.

Anyway, here's the "inspiration" (I use quotes because I still can't help rolling my eyes at Pottery Barn):

Oh, OK, and here's the link, if you really want it.

Originally, when I wrote the sample column, it was listed as $24. I'm a little disheartened to see it's been reduced to $16. But, it's still more than I paid!

Here's the bulk of the column (wow, I feel awkward stealing my own writing, for some reason):

Wooden Tray: $7 ($4.20 with coupon for 40% off at Joanns.com)
Skull Cutout: $2.99 ($1.79 with sale on all Halloween supplies at Joann's)
Black Gloss Spray Paint: On hand (typically $3-$5)
Silver Metallic Spray Paint: On hand (typically $3-$5)
Mod Podge—Gloss Finish: On Hand (typically $3-$4)
Foam Brush: On hand ($.50 for two)

First, coat the tray with the black spray paint. I didn't like the idea of the silver on the outside, but with some painters' tape, you could create the look of the PB version.

Next, cut the wire holding the mandible (thank you, high school anatomy!) onto the skull, and paint each piece separately with the silver spray paint.
Tip: Do a few coats of light and quick sprays instead of a few heavy coats. This gives the finished look more of an even tone and the layers dry quickly.

Use Mod Podge to adhere skull to tray. After the glue has set, give the entire tray a few coats of Mod Podge to seal it. If you'd like more of a durable finish, spray the Mod Podged tray with acrylic sealer a couple times.

My cost: $7.99
Cost without coupons, supplies on hand and maximum prices: $24.49. Yes, it would be $.49 more, but you'd have leftover Mod Podge, black spray paint, metallic spray paint and a foam brush, which could all be used for other projects around the house.

Am I A Bad Wife?

My husband is in the National Guard and, once a month, he goes away for drill for the weekend. I used to dread those weekends...an empty bed, no one to come home to, big home projects I don't feel right doing myself. Somehow that's changed in the past few months. Now, I look forward to them. I can craft all weekend and have the house to myself to completely destroy with craft supplies taking up every room, if I want, without him hemming and hawing about stepping on a stray sewing pin or the smell of Mod Podge (I think I've OD'd on the stuff because I don't smell it anymore).

So, this month, he has to be there for five days! FIVE WHOLE DAYS! Don't get me wrong, I'll still miss him terribly, but at least I can keep myself entertained. He left this morning and I went back to bed, sprawling out in starfish mode just because I could. When I woke up, I grabbed the laptop and actually brought it into the bedroom with me. This is another thing I can't do when he's home because I've been told my typing can be awfully loud and has been compared to machine-gun typing. So now, I'm "shooting" away, with two cats jumping over one another on the empty side of the bed. I'm about to begin a list of crafts to accomplish. If it weren't the weekend between pay-weeks, I would be in heaven!

The list:

Work on the two stools/end tables.

Possibly make a table runner for dining room table.

Start on coat hooks for hallway.

Put up curtain rods in kitchen and move curtains to other windows.

Figure out Halloween costume. (Eek! Two weeks left!)

Visit mom and get Halloween decorations she's throwing away.

Scrape walls in bathroom to get ready for painting.

Vacuum. (I know, it's not very crafty, but I don't remember the last time I vacuumed, so that's not a good thing.)

That looks good for now. I don't want to get too overwhelmed.

Homemade Halloween Costume

Ever since my mom made my Halloween costumes, I've always wanted to be able to make them. Usually, I don't think of a good costume until a week before Halloween so I don't have time to make one for myself.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when my husband asked me to make him a cape for school. He's a teacher and decided to go as a Math-a-Magician. Get it? Get it? ... It may be only a joke his wife and third graders would appreciate.

So, we went to Joann's. Could you imagine how excited I was that my husband was going to fund my Joann's habit? At least this one time...

Then he picked out stretch velvet for material. I love him, I really do. It's the fabric I ended up hating because I had to line it with fabric without any give.

And, of course, Beth had to investigate.

Really, I just cut a rectangle with a tapered bottom, lined it with cheap prom dress fabric (it was on sale, and, coincidentally, looked like what I wore to my junior prom). Then turned the top over twice and sewed it across to run a ribbon through it to tie around his neck.

Then I used double-sided fusing web to make the numbers by sticking it to remnants of fabric, cutting out the shapes and ironing them on. Oh, another thing I learned about the evil stretch velvet: lowest setting only! Christ, it nearly ruined the bottom of my iron when parts of it first melted.

When the cape was done, I took a few pictures of my husband "flying" around the living room. Unfortunately, he deleted said pictures, so I'll have to get him to pose with the cape tonight...(he's reading over my shoulder as I type, so I'm trying to hint...)

Apparently that didn't work.

But here's the finished product.

And, in my twisted mind, when Buster started playing with it, I imagined his disappointment when he realized he couldn't do math.

Best. Product. Ever!

OK, maybe not ever, as I've said the same thing about Mod Podge, acrylic sealer and scrap booking paper at one time or another. But I did splurge on the product many other craft and home blogs I follow have recommended: Chalkboard Paint.

The fronts of our ironing board-turned-spice-cabinets were looking a little plain, just painted white, like the trim. I kept thinking of adding grape stenciling to them, but I couldn't commit to it. Somehow I found it easier to commit to matte black? I dunno...maybe it was the invitation to relive early elementary school memories of drawing designs on the chalkboard before classes, except this time, they wouldn't be erased by a teacher.

Ahh, look at that blank canvas.

I've noticed that when I'm taping before painting, I finally get the knack of it for the last few pieces of tape. Oh well...I think it's still my least favorite part about painting.

But, even with the tape, I had to touch up the paint a little bit. Oh, it looked terrible when it was wet.

I could barely wait for it to be dry before I went out and got a bucket of chalk and got to work decorating for Halloween, albeit a cheap attempt.

I also "transcribed" a message from Beth, our older cat, who my husband and I feel would rule the world if only she had thumbs.

Mod Podge Giveaway

As much as I'd like to win this for myself, I figured I'd be generous for my, um, three readers (Hi Dad!).

Win a copy of "Rosie O'Donnell's Crafty U", courtesy of Mod Podge Rocks.

Link

Mess=Progress

I think my reason for procrastinating putting up a blog was exhaustion due to the non-stop weekend we had and the late nights the week before and this week I've had at work. But, since I finally have some down time, I can update with the progress we made last weekend!

It's weekends like these that make me wonder how we fit 48 hours in a weekend. Don't get me wrong, I would love to expand the weekend to get even more done.

First, I finally got sick of my unpainted trim in the kitchen.

Ooh, it hurts my eyes!

And I got out my old painting clothes (who am I kidding? It's not like I've ever put them away, honestly. I don't think my husband cares I wear  the paint-stained pants to bed) and got to work. I was surprsed when Lenny and one of our friends joined me. Hell, that trim was painted so fast, I had even more time for another project...

Oh, thank goodness! Much better!

Eventually, we will be getting new windows, so I haven't gone through the annoyance of trying to paint the existing windows we have. That's what the blinds cover, thank goodness.

 

In between coats, I began making curtains for the kitchen. Have I mentioned I am in love with my grapes and wine theme?

The green fabric is actually made from a cheap flat sheet from Wal-Mart. The green just happens to accent the grape leaves painted on the walls. And the bottoms? Well, (totally giggling with anticipation of telling you), they're dishtowels!

Here's what they looks like on the window...although, I may do some changing around because the other windows are looking a little bland in comparison.

While I was working on the curtains, my husband began taking down the drop ceiling in our bathroom.

And my father-in-law nailed down my countertops! Sorry for exclamation point, but it's very liberating having countertops that no longer move around when I do anything on them.

What we found above the drop deiling was this, which we have to live with for a little while, but the extra six inches that have been added actually really makes a difference in the feel of the space in our bathroom.

 

Now, this is a very important tool in all of our household endeavors: A kitchen chair we inherited from Lenny's parents. We've used it for everything.

And my final project of the weekend, which I can say my husband gladly helped with, was decorating my window boxes. I found wooden slats at Wal-Mart, which my husband happily spray painted with stone-like spray paint. Our friend and I wrote little tombstone sayings on them, even a few off-color ones ("Billy Mays Here!" and "Michael Jackson Cause This Is Thriller!").

Please forgive the intense need our house has for a good power-washing.

 

More Halloween decorating and construction is scheduled for this weekend! Not to mention, I just got paid. My weekly trip to Joann's is set to commence as soon as I get out of work!

Rose Bows

From working late the past two nights, I've been a little distant from crafting. As frustrating as it is staring at my two blank stools/end tables just waiting for spray paint when I get home after a 12-hour day at the office, I keep saying to myself "it's just more money to put toward my crafting habit".

But tonight, I had to come home and catch up on "Project Runway" so I wasn't in the dark tomorrow when coworkers talk about it tomorrow. So, while I'm watching this week's episode, I wanted to do a quickie-craft post.

I chose to give away one of my favorite skills: making roses out of ribbon. I use these for bows on presents when I want a little something extra that's not usually seen in stores. I learned this from a craft show I would watch back in elementary school on my sick days. Hell, sometimes they would show what would be on the next day and I'd "coincidentally" feel sick the next morning so I could watch it. I wish I could find it on DVD. (Not sure if it was "The Carol Duvall Show", but it may have been...)

Start with a ribbon, at least a foot long.

Find the middle of the middle and fold it over so the two ends form a right angle. (See? I still remember math! Kind of a personal victory.)

Take the bottom piece of ribbon and fold it over the triangle. Then fold the alternate piece over the first fold.

Keep folding until you get to the end of your pieces.

Grab the very last fold between your first finger and thumb and let the rest fall. It will look like an accordian-like shape.

This is the tricky part that takes a little practice: while keeping one piece stable, pull the other piece toward you.

It will start forming a rose.

When you pull the one piece, it does not stop; if you keep pulling it, it will come completely undone.

Once you've pulled the piece to create the desired rose size you're content with, tie it together with either floral wire or a twist tie, which was what I had on hand.

And you're done!

Different width ribbons create very different roses, some more realistic than others.

I've been known to re-enforce the tightness of the rose with a needle and thread.

If the gift is a bigger than the rose, itself, you could double or triple them up, or add one rose to a little ribbon below it, like I've done below.

(The bow below the rose is simple figure-8s folded over one-another and sewn together with a needle and thread to keep its shape and keep it together.

Oh! And the best thing I've discovered for ribbon is Fray Check. It's a very liquidy glue that keeps, well, frays in check.