Last month a new Thrift Saver store moved in down the street from where I work. On occasion I spend my lunch hour there and have found my favorite section is the old books. For some reason, Thrift Saver seems to have far more old, valuable books than Goodwill. I don’t know why that is….
Recently I’ve shared a couple projects where I’ve used Mod Podge to transfer graphics. I’ve gotten several emails asking questions about the process so I’ve created this tutorial in hopes of helping those that struggle with graphic transfers, much like I did until I found this method and tweaked it slightly. You could also Google…
At a recent farm market event, my daughter yearned for a Honey 4 Sale sign on display. She was tempted to buy it, but I talked her out of it by promising to make one for her. I started with a plain old wooden cutting board that I bought at Goodwill for one dollar. The…
Although I’ve been wanting to work on some projects around the house, I’ve been finishing up some craft projects these days. It’s been so hot, I just haven’t had the energy or drive to tackle some of the home stuff like painting the tub, painting the kitchen, and don’t remind me … painting the outside…
This summer I’m helping my daughter Bridget train for her first half marathon, which is 13.1 miles long. We meet on the bike trail by the Fox River every Sunday for the weekly “long run,” adding another mile each week. Part of the trail is under construction and the detour takes us down River Lane…
Someone once told me we’re creative because we’re made in the image of God, and God is the ultimate creator. We are all creators of something. Some of us create homes for our families, some create ideas for others to execute, and some of us create trouble! And sometimes we re-create, expanding on someone else’s…
Can we talk? I’m frustrated with my bathroom. My downstairs bathroom is kinda narrow and it has no window. It’s hard to decorate and it’s even harder to photograph due to complete lack of natural light. Anywho … I gave it a makeover several months ago and wasn’t happy with it. So here I am…
I’ve had this IKEA computer cabinet that I no longer use, so I turned it into a crafting cabinet. You might recognize this cabinet. It’s the Ikea cabinet I made over with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. You can read about its makeover here. The inside of the cabinet got a makeover as well as the…
Been workin’ on a few more bottles. Trying different looks and different techniques so creativity doesn’t get in a rut. Speaking of ruts, I saw a couple of bottles in ruts by the side of the road while I was out for my morning run. I’ve gotta remember to go back and get ’em ……
My find of the week was a small, unfinished crate. Raw wood, “plain pipe racks” as mi madre would say. It looked at me in the Goodwill store and said, “You know you want me!” So for fifty cents I made it mine. I failed to take a “before” shot but you’ve seen these plain…
This week I’ve been working on some more decoupage boxes and altered bottles in hopes of opening up a little shop on Etsy. And I have to confess, I’ve been procrastinating because I’m a little insecure about it. What if no one buys my stuff? What if I don’t price it right? “If at first…
White houses can be clean and modern, shabby and charming, stately and elegant, or classic and traditional. So here’s a salute to the All-American dream, the pride and joy of a well-loved home. All homes were photographed in Geneva, Illinois, where I spent the first 25 years of my life. Unfortunately, I didn’t grow up…
In addition to bottles, I’ve got a fetish for boxes. Small boxes, big boxes. Square boxes, butterfly-shaped boxes. It doesn’t matter. The plainer the better so I can transform them into something pretty. Here’s my latest decoupage project … Choosing decorative paper and figuring how you’ll use it is always the fun part. There are…
For the most part, our dining room has been complete for the last few months, with the exception of some minor details … like stuff to hang on the walls. But after a few shopping trips I feel like the dirty deed is finally done. Here’s the dining room the way she looks today ……
Lately I’ve been lovin’ bottles. I seek them out in boutiques. I search for them in flea markets. I hunt for them in the little dump in a hidden location at the forest preserve down the street from my house. I can’t get enough! My hope is to alter enough of them in a pretty…
My house is old. Circa 1875. Which means it has a little bit of charm coupled with quirks and oddities. It makes weird noises. Door frames and floors aren’t always straight. The layout doesn’t flow like today’s homes. But I have wide baseboards, divided windows, claw foot tubs, and solid wood doors. You gotta take…
