Vintage Subway Signs

I had to post this quickly before it was out of my brain and forgotten. I have to make this Subway Sign for my next project. I'm trying to think of a good saying for my dining room. I think it would be perfect fit in there with the Vintage Modern theme I'm going for. Any ideas for quotes, sayings?

The Heaviest Bench Ever!

I love to find new treasures in someone else's trash. This seems to be a Sunday routine of sorts lately. I found this in a lady at church's neighborhood. It was a pretty nice neighborhood too. I spotted it and new I would have to come back with Markus. He absolutely hates when I do this to him, but seriously how could I pass up this wooden bench?They even left Nike shocks in there too! LOL. I love how it opens up. It would be a great bench for a mud room if I had one or a toy/play room if I had one of those too...

Here's a shot of it on my front porch. It's the length of it just about which is about 5' or so. It's sooo heavy and barely fit in the back of the SUV. Can't wait to show the finished product. If I had the right saw I could cut the camel back right off of it cause it's not really my style... but we will see. Any suggestions of colors?

New Inspiration!!!!!!!

I've been trying to talk myself out of getting a miter saw (to start with) amongst other wood working/cutting saws to start building and fixing up my house instead of paying someone else to do it. Or feeling guilty when Uncle Brent comes by and helps and I don't have money to pay him! Well I found this blog {Knock Off Wood} and it just definitely rationalized me getting what I've been hesitant to get all along. Holy cow... I just need to take the plunge (when we have money) and just go for it!!! I'm so happy I found this chica's blog. Let the fun begin :)

Pottery Barn Sofa Table Facelift

I tried to get decent pictures of this project, but it was beyond gross outside and I did this right before it was due to rain. Please excuse my messy deck, dead plants and all the clutter. It's winter here people and in Louisiana people don't go outside when its 30 degrees (insert comment here).
So here is the PB sofa table I bought for $150 (over 75%) off the regualar price of $699 I might add. I loved the mod style of it, but wasn't in love with the color. But I knew it was built solid and I could change that grey stain with a little paint in no time. Well I finally did after having it for a little over a year.

Here you get a close up of the grey stain and the grains of the wood

The whole big long thing... it goes forever. I guess it has to fit the 50" plasma right?

Side view (you can tell where the table and chairs were painted right before, huh?)

The after pics 2 cans of spray paint later...

Total cost $6 :)
Nothing beats the black satin spray paint. I just love the finish!

"Later" Lists Found!~

I started what I call "Later Lists". Silly as it may be, I wanted to write down things I wanted for each room of my house. I didn't want to forget anything and I also wanted all my ideas to be in one place. I must have started them shortly after we moved in. I have them in a little note box by my computer where I open them occasionally (when I remember they are there) and take a peek. Naturally after my POST I thought I'd see what I was able to complete from them.

Here goes nothing... hopefully I will get more done this year!

Dining Room:
Beat Wall down- can't it's not structurally in the budget
Chocolate Wall- DONE
New Table & Chairs- DONE
Rug- can't find one the right size... so maybe still

Master Bedroom:
PB Interchangeable Headboard- went on sale not sure if it's still offered... might have to make on
Wood Floors- gotta happen!!!
Flotaki rug
Chaise Lounge Chair in sitting area
Bed tables

Master Bathroom:
Vanity bases- hahaha
Counter tops
Lighting- DONE
Mirrors- Found some for $200/piece... looking for cheaper but same look
Tile Shower- think this one is in my dreams... but who knows!
New Paint Color- DONE

Kitchen:
Window Treatments- Bought fabric... just need to assemble
Countertops- haven't made up my mind b/w tile vs. granite tiles
Backsplash- going classy here... white subway tiles all the way!
Range- DONE
OTR Microwave- :(
Dishwasher- DONE!!! and only for $150 a Bosch at that :))))
Frig- :( Will have to save up a while for this one... not doing cheap on it!

Living Room:
Drapery Rod- DONE
Sofa & Chairs- :( Again not cheap on this one folks
Rug- DONE... Zebra style from PB $200 oh yeah!
Ottoman- wishful thinking.. ab the leather.. I'll take a coffee table too

Guest Bedroom:
#1 would be to put a baby in it, but hahahaha
New Bedding
Window Treatments
New Paint Color- maybe

Office/Scrapbook Studio:
PB Black Wall shelves- or something of the like
Black & White Drapes- still shopping for fabric like 2 yrs later...

Hall Bath:
(this room is complete... but I'm just adding this now)
Paint Vanity & Toilet Cabinet- I think... Brown, just to tone down the brightness.. but IDK

I know you are probably thinking, Um wow! Trust me I am too. These were created late 2007... I'm not in a real big hurry, but Lists, They work for me. And by posting it... I won't forget about them now! I can only "chew" so much :)

5 Min Gift: Mod Podge Style

I've been re-purposing a lot of things in my scrapbook closet lately. My husband used to golf. So this sign naturally was perfect for him. He gave up golf about 3 or so years ago and long story short, this sign had no use in our house. It's a metal sign. I needed a gift for my Aunt Linda's surprise party a couple of weeks ago in like no time flat (I was running late with making the food). I knew I wanted to make her a sign and I knew I wanted it to be a sweet meaningful saying/quote. So after I found the quote... I started digging around as to what/how I would present it. I used this metal sign to mod podge her favorite color scrapbook paper to the front

Like so. I wanted to create a "matted" picture frame effect of sorts.

For those of you who don't know what Mod Podge is... here's the bottle. Its great stuff. A closeup of the paper I used. Pretty huh? She loves all things purple!

The quote/saying I used. Only her's had the scripted words bolded in purple! Nice effect!

Here she is opening it and ready intently... notice the double ribbon hanger!

At this point she is tearing up and trying to see and I quote "who did this to me?". I was right in front of her taking pictures and she looks up at me and says, "Jenn of course it was you Jenn." That was all I needed!

I never took a pic of the finished project... but you get the idea. It was very easy and as you can tell it made my Aunt Linda's day. That is what I was going for. She's the best lady ever!

Different Direction

I originally started this blog for all my gardening projects and was supposed to be posting house projects here and there. Well last year was not the year for "house" projects, so that didn't happen. I'm turning this blog into a little of everything. I didn't want to clutter up my "family" blog with all my little "projects" that I take on and with this blog they will all be in one spot. So all the house, garden, craft, decorating, etc. projects will now be shown HERE! So stay tuned... It's going to be a fun, entertaining ride :)