Thankful Tree

Thanksgiving is probably my absolute favorite holiday.

I love the story of the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving,

and I love to count my blessings.

When you stop a moment to do that, you realize how much you 

truly have.  

So, I decided to make a thankful tree for my family to contribute to every day::

I collected some twigs and stuck them in a mason jar.

I added some ribbon I already had and used my cricut to cut out circles from fallish paper then  hung them from the branches...

By Thanksgiving we should have a tree full of blessings!

{This idea was adapted from my pinterest board}

See the original that I pinned  from here.

Come see some of my photography over at Serendipity-Images.

DIY headboard

A project in pictures::

 

 Recently we moved; and in doing so my sister and I ended up switching beds.

Since hers - which was now mine - was without a headboard I decided to make one.

I found this ugly thing at a local furniture consignment store.

And I covered it first with this batting.

And then proceeded with the material on top.

My mom and I tucked and folded the material tight around the headboard and secured with hot glue.

{this is the lazy man's way of sewing and speaking from experience works wonders!}

Then I had my first attempts at making rosettes...

Presenting the finished product!!

I absolutely love it!

And the great thing about it is I can always pull apart and recover with a different fabric if I want.

This was definitely my favorite project of the month.

Visit Traci's to see more diy ideas!

{Linking up here}

Come see some of my photography over at Serendipity-Images.

A furniture makeover!!

 I have been in search of a desk for some time now.  

I did not want just any desk;

 I wanted one that I (and when I say I what I really mean is my Dad) could refinish.  

I had seen one at a local furniture consignment shop and drooled over it, but the price was just a little higher than what I wanted to pay and the owner insisted that they would never go any lower since it was an antique piece and worth much more than the sticker price.  

I went into this store several times over the past three months and the desk was always there and then one day I noticed it had been reduced and that on top of that all furniture was 20% off!!  The owner told me that obviously this desk was meant for me!  

And so - I was sold on it. :)

The first thing we did was remove the hardware and spray paint it nickel-colored.

The drawers were painted black...

My dad stripped and refinished the top of the desk:

 In order to not take away from the intricate details we taped it off and painted the rest of the desk black.

It took a couple of coats before it was just right...

My dad did an amazing job;

he is awesome! :)

I LOVE MY DESK!!

And this is what I parted with::

I have had this desk since 6th grade; it was a bittersweet moment...

But, then when I walked back inside and saw this beaut;

I couldn't help but smile! :)

Come see some of my photography over at Serendipity-Images.

For when you are bored:

...AND feeling crafty! 

So this is my third edition of a crafting post, and I hope you get a small fraction of the enjoyment looking at my diy crafts as I did in making them.  Yesterday I had the day off and I decided to finally get around to doing some projects I had seen via the blog-o-sphere.  

Let me start off by saying I have a small addiction to frames.  Every time I happen to pass the local resale shop when they are open (which is a rarity) I find myself drawn inside to the back of the store where they have frames of all sorts and sizes.  Doesn't matter how ugly they are, if they are cheap I buy them, big or small I collect them all!  ;) 

Anyways, I have had quite the collection growing under my bed and I finally found use for 6 of them:

#1 Magnetic Chalk Board Frame

via this crafty chic's tutorial here

Cost:

Sheet metal: $2.50

Paint: $.65

Frame: $2

#2 Dry Erase Frame

via the same crafty chic here

 Cost:

Thrifted frame:  $1

Paint&Paper on hand

#3 Letter art

Did you know Hobby Lobby sells single letters?

And for you photographers out there, how fun would it be to do this yourself?

(I think I could  use the challenge...)

Cost:

4 letters @ $1.99 ea.

Thrifted Frame: $2

Grey Mat matte made from a poster board

#4 Scripture Picture framed

I printed this picture I took on TYB IS., GA and put a favorite verse of mine on it.

Before:

After:

Cost:

Thrifted Frame: $2

Picture printed at home and matte made with scrapbook paper

#5 Earring Display

I have so many earrings and I only wear dangles, so this was a perfect way to display them!

Tutorial found here

Cost:

Frame: on hand

Picture wire: $1.97

#6 Pinwheels

I know this has nothing to do with frames but I adored the idea of having a bouquet of pinwheels. (Don't judge me; I am a kid at heart) :)

Tutorial found via Lisa Leanord here

My sister, Lauren came home from work and I helped her make her own chalkboard frame & pinwheels to match her room!

Aren't they adorable? :)

So, what are you waiting for?

Get crafting! :)

Come see some of my photography over at Serendipity-Images.

Weekend Recap

 It was a good and profitable weekend, in which alot was accomplished. 

First off was a project on the cricut for my mom::

 Got to love vinyl & antique window panes!

Next on the agenda was attending the bi-annual library book sale,

something I look forward to with great anticipation!!

 My great finds which totaled $9.50

 I really can never have enough classics...

And even though I already have a copy of Great Expectations, I couldn't pass

up another.  (I did refrain from buying a third copy of a Tale of Two Cities, even 

though it was very hard...) :)

 I always like to find new things to do in Pre-school,

so this was a great find for $1-

Enjoyed this book in highschool, and despite not agreeing with Lance

Armstrong's later life choices, I still like this book...

And

then

I

found
it...

 

an absolute favorite of mine,

that I literally almost cried with joy when

I found it nestled among the other books!!

A must read for all Reagan-lovers.

The rest of my Saturday was spent cricut cutting

Western objects to decorate my sister

and my buses for our Spring Push Campaign at church...

And then yesterday completed week two of our bus push...

We were a little low number wise, but it was a great day!

 

Yee-haw!  Until next time...