Our house update (the work in progress)....

Thought I would share a bit of the work in progress aka our house in Florida. We are slowly but surely getting there. We moved in so close to Christmas that we didn't bother with regular decorating. Now that Christmas has been packed away....the place looks REALLY empty! LOL I'm still struggling with how to decorate 12' ceilings but wouldn't change them for the world. So in no particular order....here we go.

Up first is some new additions to the family room. DH has been wanting to make an Entertainment Center for quite some time now. Finally, we found some inspiration in a Pottery Barn catalog and began drafting out a plan. Here is the finished project (well sans the glass doors that will eventually grace the center section). She is lovingly stained in our fave color: Gunstock. The doodads and nick nacks are in the beginning stages and it will be a work in progress as I find more things to add, but I HAD to start somewhere. We have tons of family pics that are framed that will be coming into the space too at some point....just not sure where.

Entertainment Center

Entertainment Center

Entertainment Center

Entertainment Center - Gunstock close-up

This is a shot of one of the 2 lamps we repurposed. The first is the wooden camera tripod carried all over the world by his Great Uncle (He was a photographer for National Geographic). We weren't sure what to do with it, but knew it had to stay in the family. Thus was born the first of our lamps. Isn't it the coolest?  Since we had one I knew we needed a second eclectic lamp. So, at a tag sale I fell in love with this fire extinguisher and thus was born the 2nd lamp. The shade is new.....I'm thinking it needs a good dunking in some black RIT dye but am living with it for awhile before I (Or it) takes the plunge.

Tripod Lamp

Fire Extinguisher Lamp

Close-up

Here is the first step on the fireplace mantle.....not sure it is finished yet, but I do like the black iron addition. This fireplace is so weird with the space between the mantle and the hearth. I think it was a nice tie in! Yes, you know I sprayed it flat black!

Mantle close-up

Fireplace

This is my new cool giant clock from Kohl's. I have wanted one for awhile now, but the only sale they ever have is BOGO (Buy one get one free). Now seriously, who really goes to the store to buy TWO giant clocks.....come on! So, finally at Christmas time they were 50% off! YES! Now that makes a wee bit more sense doesn't it? Geesh!

Big Clock

Big Clock

On to my bedroom. You may remember my $1 dresser project. Well, she is now sporting some fun doodads including my Eiffel Tower, my found head and some Valentine ART goodies from various friends. Next to the dresser is Ruth Iola and my newly acquired black Christmas tree. I LOVE it and it will remain out year round. It is decorated with the themes for this room. I call it 3 P's and a D. That stands for Pink, Pirates, Peacocks and Disney. I have some serious wall ART in the works for this room too, but that is for another day. Ruth Iola is sporting a new HOPE hanging ornie too that I think is really awesome.

Dresser

Dresser

Dresser

Dresser

Ruth Iola

Ruth Iola

Black Tree

Black Tree

Tree close-up

Tree close-up

On the other side of the room is my newly repuposed hutch. It was in our dining room in our last house. Since I'm using black in here it was a perfect fit although quite boring. So I had DH cut me some panels and I headed to the studio. Armed with my decoupage glue mix and some vintage papers (Russian dictionary, church hymnal, American dictionary stamped with my fave ART images)and some vintage ladies cut from a vintage sewing book) I began the transformation. After the collages were dry I coated them with 2 coats of Polycrylic. Best stuff ever people....try it if you have not! They were cut to fit precisely so they just sit at the back and are therefore removable if need be. I LOVE this personalized piece of MEness!  I have now added in more personalized goodies: my Great Grandma's candy dish, more Valentine ART from friends, my fave Disney pics and more. I really am happy with how it is turning out. Hope you enjoyed your mini tour of the work going on in Florida this week! Enjoy!



Before



During

After

Close-ups

Close-ups

ART

ART

ART

ART

Masterboard Technique and Results

Over at one of my Yahoo groups, we are having new techniques on Fridays. The first one was called Masterboard. Basically you take a piece of cardstock and some stamps and literally fill the page. You random stamp your images beginning with the largest and continuing on down the line until it is filled. Then, using dtp (direct to paper) color in your page with random splotches of color. The key here for both of these steps is DON'T THINK.....JUST DO. You want it be unplanned. Then you cut up (or tear up) pieces of these sheets and make new ART projects with them Our challenge was to make 6 cards. I stated with one 12 x 12 sheet of pink cardstock since I wanted to do a Valentine theme. I managed to make 6 cards, 1 book mark, 1 ATC and 1 Tag with my sheets.

The supplies I used for the masterboard were: Jet Black Stazon Ink, Pink Cardstock, a handful of Valentine Rubber Stamps and some coordinating cat's eyes chalk ink pads.

To finish off the ART projects I used: White Glue, Martha Stewart Black Onyx Glitter, Black Cardsotck, Glossy White Cardstock, Tape Runner Adhesive, Xyron Sticker Maker, Paper Punches: 1" & 1 1/8" Squares and Round Hole Punch, and bits of Vintage Black Lace.

Here is the stamped Masterboard after stamping.


Here is the stamped Masterboard after coloring.

The finished ART pieces.

My fave card......you can barely see the Versamark Stamping on the Black Cardstock in this view. If you click the pics to see them larger it is visible on them all!! :)

Card #2

Cards 3 & 4....simple yet effective

Card 5 & 6

The Tag, ATC & Bookmark

Valentine Masterboard #2 step #1

Valentine Masterboard #2 step #2

Blue Moom Masterboard step #1

Blue Moon Masterboard step #2

Here are a few links to some more Masterboard Inspiration: here, here and here.

It's amazing to me how I like them when they have just been stamped until they are colored. What a difference it makes. So, will you try this technique in your ART studio? Please leave me a link if you do!! :::smiles:::

25 Days of Christmas - Day 19

Woo Hoo!! Day #19 is here. I am so excited to share my 25 Days of Christmas gifties with you. Each day I will share the packaging and the giftie that arrived from one of my ART friends. So, here we go..... Here is Giftie #19 from Elaine.

Okay, this is seriously cool and totally ME!! It is the perfect little pink and black pirate pillow. I've been "pirate" LONG before being pirate was cool!! It is sooo cool!! Thanks Elaine....I simply adore this giftie!!

Stay tuned for tomorrow and another giftie!! :)

Upgrades abound here in Georgia.....

We have been having fun upgrading here in our house. We replaced the hand me down table and chairs with a sleek , new wooden black set which I really like. The round pedestal table is smaller and fits our space much better. We also purchased a wooden 2 drawer wide 8 drawer dresser at a yard sale for $1!! :) It will get painted black and new glass knobs. I'll share some before and after pics of that project when it is completed.

I was looking for something to put on the table and found this gorgeous linen topper with cutwork baskets and paired it with my vintage beaded basket.....aren't they divine together??

We also found affordable bar stool chairs for our kitchen. We have been looking for over a year. They are also black, but metal. John and I use them every day now for lunch!! The girls like them for naping as well!!

We also finished up the beach photos project on my recycled wooden shutters room divider. I cannot express how much I love it. :::smiles::: I had 18 of my faves beach pics made and then I framed them in identical, simple black frames from Dollar Tree!! Boy do I like that store!! Did you know you can order from them online?? It's great if you want a quantity of a certain item. Check it out: http://www.dollartree.com/. We put up a burlapy/jute like ribbon first (to give the illusion they are hanging from it. Then John hammered in tiny nails and we hung them up! Ta-Da!! Wonderful focal point for my seashell themed living room.

Eventually all the furniture in that room will go to my copper, black tones as well. I have bought quality pieces of furniture so I will just be having them recovered. First up though are the cornices and chair cushions. Also, we will be getting a round glass top cut for the table to help preserves it longer. We are pleased!! :)