Weekend Projects

I have a couple projects that have been sitting in the garage. Waiting patiently for their turn.

In my defense, I am not the one with the unfinished piano. That would be J.

Do you remember the headboard from 2010 (blog can be found here)?

There's a table that I have been meaning to stain, paint, or sell just to get rid of it. I bought it from a friend for $30, and it's an antique drop leaf table.

My trunk that I painted yellow and decided I didn't like the yellow (found here) hasn't been sitting in my garage, but it has been on The List for a make over.

And then I was at Goodwill. Looking for candle sticks and plates to glue together to make cake/cupcake stands (it's all the rage on pinterest right now). And I found an ottoman for $10. It was monstrously large. And it was $10 because it was really beat up. The fake leather was coming apart and the bottom had very scratched up paint. But I knew that once we painted it and got new fabric on it, it would be glorious. The foam inside it was worth the $10 alone. Do you know how expensive foam is??? I knew I didn't have anywhere in my house for this ottoman. But I also knew it was too good of a deal to pass up. So I called Kristi and asked if she could use a large ottoman and explained to her how it would be a great project. Kristi agreed, and I came home and talked J out of being mad.

I decided I was going to finish these projects. Because I've been meaning to do something about my kitchen and bathrooms and darnit, I am going to clean out my garage.

So this is what my kitchen/dining area has looked like since last weekend. Except I took the photo AFTER painting the trunk and headboard, but you get the picture. You can see my sad little table, and you can barely see part of the ottoman (Kristi took the bottom and will be painting it. J and I will be re-upholstering the top.)

This trunk looks so much better blue. I also added a little handle on the outside so it is easier to open and a lid support that locks open on the inside. I was finding that my little toy chest was a danger to small children because they would pull the lid down on themselves. Well, no more! Not only is Auntie Deidre's house fun, but it is also safe! Assuming you have enough coordination so that you don't injure yourself on the trampoline...

Here's the story with the headboard. It was going in Matt's room (Kristi's boy). Matt decided he didn't want it. It sat in my garage for awhile, in a very sad state. I finally decided I was just going to paint it and sell it on Craigslist. Last weekend I was sanding it, when I got a call from Kristi. Mom wanted the headboard. I told her I was just sanding it, it was strange that she was now calling me. I was going to paint it red. Mom didn't want the headboard if it was going to be red. Well, how about blue? Mom likes the blue. The headboard is now out of my garage and in my mother's house and it is blue. One project down. Yes!

So if you've read any of my projects, you know J and I both hate painting. Why do I do this to myself? We finally, FINALLY, bought a paint sprayer. It is my favorite new thing.

I painted my trunk and the headboard in under an hour. More time was spent on the prep work and cleaning up than on the actual painting.

No, I'm not going to paint your project for you. Don't get any ideas. I'll let you borrow my paint gun as long as you clean it. And treat it with the loving respect it deserves.

Coming up will be the table, the ottoman, and then maybe the kitchen and/or bathroom. That last project isn't solidly planned just yet. Who knows, with the paint gun we may just get around to the piano.

I am also hosting my sister Shanna's baby shower in two weeks. I think my table painted red will be precious, and Kristi is letting me borrow the ottoman for extra seating. Nothing like a good deadline.

Shelves in the Den

We've been meaning to do this project for years. Our first attempt at shelves was turning the coat closet in my kitchen into a pantry. Everything that could have gone wrong with that project did. I'm surprised we even attempted adding a shelf to the master bedroom closet.

This project's time had come. Our TV room/den had DVDs and gaming systems everywhere. Plus I'm always complaining that I don't have any storage.

Here's the before. A strange little nook. The part to the left is my laundry room on the other side of the wall. My house has all sorts of these little nooks. I kind of like it; it makes things interesting. It was a creative way to smoosh all the rooms together.

J and I had a really efficient system. We would get the board level, I would hold it while he drilled a pilot hole with a small drill bit. You have to make sure to mark "up" on your board so it doesn't get turned upside down. We would then switch out the drill bit to the larger one for the wall anchor.

I would use the larger drill bit to quickly drill a hole to countersink the screws (so the screw head doesn't stick out).

I would give to drill with the anchor drill bit back to J and he would work on the wall studs. I would take the other drill with the screwdriver head and get the screws started. This was a really easy way to line up the screws with the wall anchors. I would hand it to J and he would finish screwing it in while I switched out the drill bit back to the smaller piece and got everything ready for another board.

We got all the shelf supports up Friday night. Early Saturday we got up for round two. We still don't own a router so I sanded the shelf edges down. I have finally figured out the perfect technique (moving the sander in wide circles while also moving it up and down over the edge) and my edges look fantastic. It just took forever. And since it was a record breaking 112 degrees outside, it was not fun.

J is all ready to paint in this photo. We FINALLY bought a paint sprayer, so after a bit of a learning curve (it wasn't working because the hose wasn't plugged into the air compressor, duh) we got everything painted the same white we painted the room.

I was trying to take a picture and dropped my phone. And I caught it just as it took a picture. I like it.

We were just about done; I just needed to caulk and we had already checked that we still had caulk left over. I made the mistake of saying to J, "This just might be our first project where we've only had to go to the hardware store once!!"

I got out my caulking gun and my caulk was completely dry and wouldn't come out of the tip. It busted out the bottom and got all over my caulking gun. I had to go buy more caulk. But don't worry, we checked the vast knowledge of the internet and found how to store the caulk so that it doesn't happen in the future.

Maybe one day I will achieve my dream of a project where we only make one trip to Lowe's.

Here is why caulking is important. The before.

And the after. 

Look at that beautiful rounded edge! Like a boss. This was before the shelf was pushed all the way in; they don't stick out like that.

That's a special little treat just for me. The hotness that is my J. He was adjusting his cords and I decided that was a good time for the "finished" photo. You're welcome.

J was in Corum's wedding, so that's how we spent our Saturday night. At first it reaaaaaaally sucked being outside while they took the photos. Corum's mom said she had prayed for some cloud cover and wind. She got her wish. Can you see the sky in the background? She got a freaking haboob. Don't ever cross that woman. She has powers.

Grateful

I am grateful for my family. I love that we get together for Sunday night dinner. I love the random texts. I love when we get together for a sister night (although now that Mike's home, he can be invited). I love the support my family provides, and knowing that someone is always there should I need them.

I am grateful for friends. The girls that I may not see or talk to every day, or even every month, but when we meet up we can laugh and talk and I can be my normal silly self. Katelyn, Deni, HP and Keeley, I love you girls. (And that was in no particular order! Don't start analyzing where you are in the list! It changes depending on what mood I'm in.... ;) )

Keeley

Deni

HP

Katelyn

I am grateful for my coworkers. I work with some great people.

This photo doesn't include even a fraction of them.

I am grateful for my job. I love the company I work for. The benefits are great, the managers are great, the CEO is great, the spirit is great, the campus is beautiful. If I could be promoted to a staff position, I could probably stay there until I retire.

I am grateful for my J. He makes me feel special. He lets me be a brat. And when I apologize later for being a brat, he lies to me and tells me that I am never a brat. He makes me laugh.

I am grateful for my house. Even though the kitchens and bathrooms need to be updated and it's a very small house, there are so many in the world who are living in a shack. Under a tarp near a dump. Trying to feed their children. And I remember how selfish I am and my little house looks like a mansion.

I am grateful for Marcus the truck. No car payment, 26 miles to the gallon, doesn't give me any problems, and all the usefulness of a truck (which we use regularly between Lowes and buying dirt/compost).

Count your many blessings, name them one by one...

Painting Popcorn Tins

Remember my blog (found here) where I painted a popcorn tin and turned it into a cat food container?

I had two tins in my garage that I had been meaning to do something with. My sister Kristi came over and gave me an excuse to use my Silhouette machine.

I always forget she's a perfectionist until we're doing a project. 

J is always willing to lend a helping hand.

It's not a craft blog without a shot of Lilly the cat.

It looks like I didn't do any work, but I'll have you know that I peeled the vinyl off the backing after it was cut, which is no easy task.

The one that says "bags" is going to be used as storage for plastic bags. Brilliant.

It was good to spend some time with my sister.

We have a home improvement project planned for this coming weekend. J's friend Corum is getting married and he is a groomsman, so we'll see if that happens. I'm torn between wanting to wear a scandalous dress to see what all the Mormons do and just looking nice.

Book Reviews

I love reading. I have always been a bookworm. Nothing sophisticated, usually romantic comedies. Life is too serious as it is, I don't like reading books with real-life problems.

I've always been a fast reader. Anytime anyone was reading over my shoulder, I would glance at them, see that they weren't finished, and wait to turn the page. J is the only one I've ever met who can read faster than me. I remember the first time we went on an airplane ride and I was reading over his shoulder. He was turning the pages faster than I could read them. I remember feeling shocked.

So I found a few books that I love. The first two aren't my normal fiction, but I've been telling people about them, so I thought a book review would be fun.

This book is written by a marriage counselor. He describes the five love languages - touch, acts of service, words of affirmation, gifts, and quality time. Couples have problems when they don't communicate in the appropriate love language. So if a husband always tells a wife how beautiful she is and how much he loves her, but spends a lot of time at work, and the wife's love language is quality time, she is going to be unhappy. It's a great book because at the beginning the author talks about being in love and the feelings that are experienced. How you just can't wait to make your partner the happiest person in the world, how you will do anything for that person. How the initial feelings of being in love fade, and people are ultimately selfish. But you can work at loving your partner, and making sure that person feels loved. He described how marriages on the brink of divorce were able to find new life. It was an informative read.

Heaven is for Real. I really don't feel like I need to say anything more.

This is a fantasy book. Not fantasy with mythical creatures or anything. It's basically the same world as would be experienced in old times - kings, castles, horses, warriors. Except for one difference. People born with two different eye colors - they can be any color, the point is that the colors don't match - are graced. This means that they have a special gift. It can be anything from riding horses, fighting, mind reading, cooking, or even something kind of dumb such as being the best whistler. The main character is a young woman who is graced. I can't reveal much of the story without ruining it, but I love this book. If they make it into a movie I might cry. And hope that it is a total flop.

Here's my thing with books and movies. I'm OK watching the movie and then reading the book. I did that with Where the Heart Is. Natalie Portman and Ashley Judd gave great performances, and the book added extra insight (and extra characters). Reading the book was a great experience after seeing the movie, and I felt like it added a nice layer that was missing. Watching a movie after reading a book is a horrible experience. If I read the book, I already have the characters and their voices in my head. My Harry Potter characters are gone forever, and have been replaced with really bad actors. I'm still furious about it. I've only seen one movie, but the stupid actors were EVERYWHERE. You couldn't escape them. And the movies take things away from the book. They don't add an extra little layer. It just ruins something precious.

I made sure to watch the movie The Help before reading the book. Much better experience for me. I don't mind that the characters have already been created for me. The extra scenes that the book has to offer make up for it.

So there's my book review...and rant against movies....

I may have a few pending home improvement projects. We'll see.