Empty wall space above the TV

Our TV is up along a wall that is next to our fireplace and built ins. I left this space empty for at least a year and a half because nothing seemed to work there.  I wanted something up there that wouldn't look too busy with accessories in the built ins.  Yesterday I finally decided to just try something up there and see how I like it.  I have boatloads of extra wood in my garage so made a reclaimed plank to make a sign out of but couldn't figure out what to write on there that I would want my family and friends and myself look at every.single.day. 

The hubs helped me with this project which I rarely let him do but we had a nice time creating something together.  It was our anniversary which made it more special. 

We constructed the sign by cutting the ends clean so they would attached together well and then just used some wood glue and screws to keep the seams together. 

Through the awesomeness of Pinterest I found a suggestion to use soda tops for hangers which worked perfectly.  For the fabric on top, I just tore an old pillowcase into strips, twisted, and stapled to the back of Michaels $1 wood frames.  Then measured equal distance on wood board and hung nails.  Popped in some cool images from Arhaus catalog for now (will likely put family pictures in later) and Voila. Wall art.  Not sure if it jives with the style we have going in the room but have learned that decorating is an evolution and am going with it.

Fun easy project and only cost $4 for the frames and a pit of patience. 

Conquering fears

I don't know about you but up until about a year ago I had a HUGE fear of creating.  Yes, its a VERY silly fear but it was a strong one for me.  It was a fear of making it ugly or messing it up and I just hate wasting money.  I get that you have to try things and make mistakes to improve and succeed at things but when I fail the first time it frustrates me. 

I joined a Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) group last year who had a PINTEREST club.  I still can't believe I showed up to actually make crafts in a public setting.  I was determined to make some new friends after moving and thought they might wear off on me.  I created and failed and hung my head in shame.  I was jealous of the beautiful and carefree creations that my friends had made.  Looking back I feel like it was just what I needed though.  In the back of my head I have always wanted to be that crafty person and was being held back by my own fear and my silly idea of creating something 'perfect.'  I recently decided just to go for it and see what happens.  I have made a couple of different things like wreaths, ornaments and wood pumpkins, things I have never made before and while not 'perfect' they are a part of me and accept them.  I can proudly say that a boutique is selling a book wreath for me on consignment and I took the leap and opened a etsy shop. 

Here is my shop if you are interested in checking it out
HeatherBorerDesigns

Excited about the escape of this side of me and looking forward to where I go from here.  With whatever holds you back, be brave and just go for it!!!  It feels great to be on the other side

Painted wooden spoons

The holidays always gets me in the crafting mood.  I love giving handmade gifts and hope that the recipients enjoy them too.  I also should start now for this year so I am not up till midnight cranking gifts out!

I found the wooden spoons at Dollar Tree and then taped them off with Frog Tape as I wanted the lines to be super crisp.  I painted one color with acrylic paint, waited for it to dry and then did the next.  To protect them I used food safe shellac (most hardware stores carry, I got mine at Home Depot) on the handles. 

Merry Christmas in July!





Whoo is looking at you?

A very dear friend of mine had a baby, 8 months ago!! With two kids of my own its been difficult to find the time to make something handmade for this special little girl.  I honestly had planned on sending it months ago!  I can proudly say now that the gift has been shipped and can't wait for her to receive it.  The baby owls come out and hopefully will provide hours and years of entertainment and love.  All fabric was purchased at Joanne fabric.

I also sent a upcycled headband (made from a t-shirt) using this tutorial from Delicate Construction.  To make this type of flower just ruffle it a bit and leave off center button.

Happy crafting!

Buying new patio pillows but recover some instead?

With the warm weather I started getting the outdoor decorating bug.  I wanted to spend time outdoors but HATED our patio.  Old ugly iron table wasn't working for me, I had dreams of relaxing on a sectional patio reading stories to my girls and cuddling with my family.  Searched hi and lo for something that was in my price range that wasn't insanely ugly.  After much debate we settled on this Sandhill 7 piece sectional from Walmart.

We love it.  Its comfortable, assembled easily and seems to work in the space.  They included 3 neutral lumber pillows but wanted some color so started looking for some fun pillows.  Couldn't seem to find anything in the store that I liked or even coordinated very well. So being the DIY chick and garage sale addict I am realized, sew them woman!  Ordered some cute fabric from fabric.com (whom I adore, so much fabric candy there) and between a couple of garage sale outdoor pillows for guts, tada!   All the pillows with fabric set me back about $35.  Not bad considering I could have bought just 2 from any retail store.  BTW- Make sure you use outdoor foam or inserts for your pillows.  If you use regular throw pillows they will mold inside.  You can find these at any fabric store for about $5 a piece on sale. 

Richloom Solarium Solar Outdoor Cherry

Richloom Solarium Outdoor Sahalie Garden

Richloom Solarium Outdoor Zinger Kiwi



Oh, and to make sure this beauty lasts, I picked up some of this Thompsons WaterSeal Fabric Seal to hopefully keep the colors bright and waterproof.  This stuff is different than regular scotch guard and has UV protectant in it.  Only place I could find it was at Lowes and ran about $8.

Tree Stump Table vs. Ceramic stool

I love ceramic stools.  They are pretty and have a pretty shape.   I love them but now that I have been a mom for 4 years have learned not to always buy pretty things, I just end up crying.  I just know some kid during a playdate, or my own would take this out and break it.

Source - $225

I have seen the tree stump tables floating in blogland so thought I would give it a go.  I was planning on using it next to my fireplace but it was too short and I will be damned I didn't lug that huge heavy stump home in my car racing home before naptime for nothin'!  It works pretty well outdoors on my patio. I followed the steps on one of my favorite blogs bowerpowerblog.com. 

Love this picture of the hubs and my oldest sandin' away. 

Makes me so happy that this little baby cost me just a bit of gas money, sandpaper and outdoor poly.  West elm sells for $200! Craziness.


My version $10

West Elm
 

What is green with brown all over?

I have officially fired my husband from lawn care and I am taking over, like most other things.  This is our first year as homeowners and we are transplants from the northeast so we clearly have no idea how to keep a green grass, let alone the fact that we live in bone dry and hot Colorado. 

We had a NASTY case of crabgrass last year which I was determined to not let it come back in the spring and got the Scotts Crabgrass control and it worked like a charm. Awesome I thought, just water this baby and fertilize in the spring and fall and we are good to go.  Nope.  Some brown spots started creeping up and getting bigger.  Frick! So tried watering a bit more. Can't water the heck out of it due to water restrictions from the drought we are in so almost gave up. 

Saw my neighbor doing some pretty unpleasant yard work so stopped by to say hello and he said, yep, fungus. FUNGUS! What?! Yep, lots of work.  Kill, rake, reseed, topsoil.  sigh.  So dragged my 4 and 2 year old girls over to our neighborhood Home Depot (so happy its only a 3 min drive).  All ready to get my seed and go and the sales guy, who oddly enough used to be a car salesman tried convincing me to use Revive instead.  I was planning on treating the grass like a fungus now totally confused on direction I should go.  GRRRR.   Why is there no easy formula to this lawn crap!   So threw down the $20 for this experiment.  Fingers crossed the easy way wins! 

Deadness

More deadness



PUURDY!  This is the goal!