Reminder

Ladies ( and maybe gents!) Just a reminder- the Christmas decor series kicks off tomorrow!!!!!! Or maybe at 11:59 tonight if I am still awake. If you aren't privy to this info heres some sneak peeks!

See you tomorrow!

Blessed mama

8... 8 dollar... 8 dollar coffee table!

So- what do you think this post is about? A sofa? He-he.
Okay anyways.... After posting my Christmas series announcement this morning I popped #3 into the car and off we went to the Dollar Tree and the Salvation army. i have been looking for a coffee table for quite some time. Cannot. Find. The. Right. One. I walked into the good ol SA and there He was. Squeal! Long, lean, and EIGHT DOLLARS! EIGHT DOLLARS! Seriously- I ran to the check out and told th clerk I was calling dibs on him. Then I proceeded to look for a coat for my middle son, and some other stuff- pics to come later of my thrifty finds.

Anywho- the table.... I put it in the trunk and brought it home, went to the grocery, came home, put 2 coats of primer on her, 2 cans of Satin cream spray paint and several coats of clear protective acrylic. It kinda smelled like cinnamon. Anyohne else notice that about Krylons Satin crystal clear? Anywho... LOOK!

Someone had a bad dog!

I cannot wait to put it int he house! The legs match the legs of my antique chairs!

okay- off to finish another project!

Christmas Decor Series!

Ladies... (And maybe gents?)

I have an announcement!

NO- I'm not pregnant.

No I haven't won the Mother of the year Nobel -Wear- a -million -hats- and -be- underpaid- award, nor have I won the wife of the year award. Or the Lottery. I don't think I've ever won something in my life!

Are you ready? Drum Roll please!

I have decided to do a series on Christmas Decor!

I will be featuring DIY ideas that will hopefully make you squeal with delight!  The series will kick off on Monday the 9th and be done by the end of November. I know, I know- thats BEFORE the 1st of December. But remember this post about planning ahead? This way those of you that wait until December 1st to decorate will have all of your goodies made and ready to go. Those of you that are psycho crazy get it done WAAAY Early   plan ahead like me will be putting them up mid November!

Just a couple tantalizing tid bits to rope y'all  in and whet yer whistles- But not neccessarily in this order...

Dove ornaments inspired By Ballard

Button Garland Inspired By Ballard

Tree Skirt YES-YES- ALSO inspired by Ballard(Can we ever get enough of Ballard?)

Stockings

Christmas Countdown Garland

Mini tree inspired by Frontgate

Sweet treats

Who knows maybe I shall have a giveaway, too...

Have I hooked you yet? GOOD! See you soon!

I thought i would add a sneak peek of what I am up to. Okay, Okay, a sneak peek of 1 of the many things I am up to- I'm always doing a bajillion things at once!

I have had my heart set on a Christmas tree skirt this year. Ive never had one. GASP! I know some of you are going WHAT? A nekkid tree? Yes... I confess my tree has been nekkid in the past.  When you have 3 boys in 3 years, and a world of crazy life circumstances in between you are lucky to get that tree up! There shall be no nekkid tree this year! It all started with a photo. This one to be exact....

I fell in love with the simple elegance it was showing. I Just had to have something similiar- but NOT at $120.00 Thanks Ballard but you aren't in my budget. So- on a girls night out with a friend I picked up a couple of yards of canvas, burlap and something canvassy with a pattern... I decide I wanted a Christ centered skirt, instead of Paris centered. I looked online for a pattern- not much out thre for free. Did some measuring, and found an old patttern i wasnt going to use. I then glued 4 pieces togther and cut out a circle.

Laid my fabric out next and panicked, because somehow I was 2 yards short... Welcome creativite ideas!I somehow figured it out and cut... and sewed... and pressed and sewed and probably mumbled a few rude words under my breath along the way... I THEN went online to Graphics Fairy and found some great graphics. I ALSO found lyrics to my fave Christmas hymns.

I took all of it and made some documents on works and publisher- I cannot seem to get them to load right- if you would like me to email them to you i am more than willing! I then printed them out on Avery transfer paper. BIG MISTAKE! That stuff was TERRIBLE! I once again panicked, and almost cried. The I decided to print patches and cover the transfer paper mess.... Here is the half fixed Hot mess tree skirt  am still working on...It needs ironed, and I need to finish my patch work. I actually like the patches!

See where the Avery transfers are cracked and peeling?

Now- see the patch BELOW the cracked and peeling mess?

I printed that directly on the fabric. I just ironed my fabric, and used scrapbooking squares to adhere the fabric to a piece of paper, cut the fabric with paper attatched to size and then sent it through my printer!

Wa-la! Free! I should done that first! Anywho- Im linking up to Brag Monday at Graphics Fairy and also DIY day at A soft Place to Land and sometime before Christmas you all can see the fixed tree skirt!

Over and out

Halloween is come and gone. My ninjas and pirate have more candy than needed and are loving it. I am enjoying the 'mommy tax' that comes from taking them around the neighborhood. The tax that gives me chocolate! Our fab neighbors had KING SIZED candy bars awaiting their fave little neighbor boys- and my kids squealed with delight! I had out little neighbor boy over yesterday and we baked cookies and made magic wands. My kitchen was a wreck. Serioulsy- a wreck. Four boys rolling out sugar cookies can never be done cleanly, can it?
Today I am taking down halloween, and putting up Novemberish things. I also have painted ALL of my cabinet hardware in an oil rubbed bronze finish, along with some doorknobs, door hinges, and um- I cant remember what else! Chili is on the stove for a family get together tonight with my hubby's grandparents, and my youngest is asleep.

My middlest is trying to weasel more candy out of me. My oldest is cleaning the garage. Punishment around here is usually extra chores- and not fun ones at that. I am trying to get a holiday craft night set up with some of my best gal friends- advent calendars are the craft of choice I do believe... now- I shall leave you with pictures as I work on anding down some door frames...

He doesnt like the guts...

They are DEE-SCUST-TING!!!

No I am NOT A GURL! Or A sissy!

See Quin- punkin guts are NOT a big deal!

a murdered pumpkin

A sweet pumpkin

Im done rolling out dough!

This took me quite awhile to clean up....

A pirate wanting candy BEFORE pictures!

And finally- a pirate peeing on the bush of those who didn't have candy for him...

Of Halloween and Christmas

It's been awhile since Ive blogged.  We have all been down with the swine flu. And bronchitis, and sinus infections, oh and ear infections, too. I don't remember the last time I have been so stinkin' sick. I actually had a 103 fever on tylenol. My sons were 105.2 and 104.1 Us asthmatics can't quite handle high fevers. We've been drugged up, and I think we have watched more t.v. in the past 3 weeks than in the past 3 months. I think I also set a new Sarah record for not showering or wearing makeup. Is that TMI? Oh well. It's true. Now that Ive disinfected my house, and scrubbed bathrooms, and am off of the medicine I still can't quite get back to myself. Ive heard this flu leaves you exhausted and weak. It's the truth! So Ive been reading books, sewing a little(that takes too much effort) and keeping up on the house. And taking lots of naps. LOTS of naps. Maybe sometime this week I'll be back to meself?
I have halloween costumes to hem, and pumpkins to carve. Mummy 'pup'cakes have been made and my boys want to make some 'magic wands'. The school party is tomorrow- I hope I have everything ready! Just kidding, I do. I think.
 And I am still working on the Christmas decor. Call me crazy. Christmas takes time, ya know? Although while sick I did my sons Christmas shopping. No joke- thank you ebay! My older 2 boys are getting a Didj each, with cool 'skins' and I have 4 games- 2 math, 2 reading/spelling. The little guy is getting a Leapster L-max loaded with 6 games. I was able to buy 2 of the systems used, but they look new, and save a whopping
$350.00! Seriously! And the new in the box system I saved about 50% on , too. I have spent less than $120.00 on all 3 boys total! Woo-hoo! Hubby and I are boycotting Christmas for each other this year. Stockings are all that are left to do. WHEW! And its not even halloween!
Back to decor.
I would like to make an advent this year. I have seen some cute ones. Some cheesy ones. Some downright hideous ones!  I would like somethign non-cheesy, something a little more elegant. Here are some options
Craftzine has the directions to this one. I was thinking it would be beautifuous in linens, grossgrain, silks... With printed numbers? Fancy fonts? Mother of pearl buttons? Ah my wheels are turning!

Etsy has several options! This is made of muffin tins.

Garnet Hill offers garland style ones- how cutesy are these lil buckets?

Wanna know a secret? Dollar Tree has little buckets in their wedding section... Four for a BUCK! SSHHH... now go buy yourself some before everyone else rushes the Tree and buys them up!!!!

I have seen cutesy mittens, and little bulbs, wall hangings... I am leaning more toward the garland style, but not sure what yet. maybe once I finish my tree skirt it will come to me... Now- go forth and create! get Halloween over with and enjoy your Christmas crafting!

It's beginnign to look a lot like...

CHRISTMAS!!!!

So- I'm sick. Really. Really. Sick. I. Have. NO. Voice. And my sons have been trying to take advantage of it! Anywho- what's a girl to do that is supposed to relax and take it easy?

Sew of course!!!

The color scheme I borrowed from Ballard. The design- why it came out of my own pretty little head, of course!

DIY day at a Soft Place To Land! Come Join the fun!

It's DIY day at A soft place to land!So I thought I would drag something out of the files, and link up! With me being sick and having sick kiddos not much has been done recently! Today I will show you my bathroom sign- still awaiting to be hung in the ALMOST finished bath! I don't have before pictures- please forgive me. And trust that it was nothign fab or fun before!

                                   

This little sign started out as an unfinished piece from Hobby Lobby for $3.00. I bought a piece only becasue I had no scrapwood that was thick enough or looked right.  I painted her black, and used some sandpaper to distress her out. I printed out the french saying with graphics from the Graphics fairy, and the help of a friend that majored in French. After modge podging I let her dry and touched up the raw edges with paint. I then got out the trusty drill, drilled 2 holes and used ribbon I already had in my craft dresser.

Total cost? $3.00- I already had the other materials.

 The shutter you see? A goodwill find for $2.00. Painted with Heirlom white spray paint, distressed and then covered in Poly- I drilled 3 holes, shoved 3 antique door knobs through those holes and hubby filed the backs down to sit flush, then came bolts and LOTS and LOTS of gorilla glue, or wood glue or both.  2 Saw tooth hangers finished her out and makes a fab towel rack for my spare bath! Total cost $2.00 for the shutter, and I found 7 knobs for a total of .50 cents!!!!!

These items will be layered on my wall with art displayed on the wall above. not bad for $5.00, eh?

Plan ahead gal

I won my ebay auction! What auction you ask? An auction of 300 Mother of pearl buttons. As one of my facebook friends asked- "WHAT are you going to do with 300 buttons!?"

Why- make this of course! Thank you Ballard Designs for the garland inspiration.

Not that theirs were TOO pricey- but $5.00 for 300 buttons isn't bad... Add Ribbon at .50cents per roll and I have me some inexpensive yet classy Christmas decor. I shall post pics when it is done. I also found this tree at Frontgate.com for $98 smackaroos.

Wouldn't she look lovely in a fancy mini Urn tabletop size? With vintage glass birds in her branches? Maybe even in Silver? Like a frosty night? Or the aftermath of an ice storm? My man suggested I go to the Garden center and buy a dead shrub for "next to nothing or heck, they might even GIVE it to you!". I thinks I shall!

Why am I obsessed with Christmas NOW? I don't know- this is the plan ahead gal you're reading about.

 I had my birth plans written at the end of my first trimester. I had my bags packed for the hospital at 24 weeks. Really. I lived out of my little travel bag- and all my makeup went back in it every day after I put my face on. I planned my friends baby shower 4 months before she was having it. Really- I think I drove her nuts telling her to GO REGISTER ALREADY so I can print stuff up!!!!!! I already have had presents bought for Christmas since summer, and I plan a Thanksgiving menu in October. See- I have 3 small boys. And something never fails to happen at the oddest time. Like a broken arm, a cold, asthma attack, etc  etc.

SO- my theory is that even though I may have X amount of time to finish X task- WHAT IF? Not that I am worried, don't take it that way- i just like to be prepared. I hate rushing around and not doing things right because I didn't plan ahead and X happened and X is now not going to happen...Get it?

Good!

So- Seeing as I will be sewing/crafting/gluing my Christmas decor Now really IS the time to plan!

I also think I am going to change out my pillow covers with a neutral pallette to really soften thigns up. Check these out -Jen from Sanctuary Arts at Home sells them- I love how simply elegant they are! So linens and Burlap and Buttons it probably will be amidst silver, gold and greenery.

 Now I'm off to lay on the couch with my 3 yr old and watch some Scooby Doo- I'm sick and need the rest!

Christmas in October

Now that my fall wreath is done, and my Halloween decor I am thinking of Christmas. I would love a gorgeous tree skirt- all Fancy Shmancy and such. I want to redo our stockings, and make a big fat obnoxiously beautiful garland for my mantle. seeing as my kids are having pumpkins sugar cookies and a movie night at Grams and Grandads I decided to get lost in my googling (or oohing and aahing).

Don't Judge- Dinner was delicious-  Kalamata Pork Medallions with Rosemary, asparagus and baked potatoes. My kitchen is clean, laundry is done, floors are swept and I even organized that pile in the corner of my room of craft, Etsy, and decor stuff. So- my googling  Oohing and Aahing is well deserved!

I got my latest Ballard Designs catalogue today. I love their tree skirts- simple, elegant OOH!

As much as I love this and think I may want to do something similiar I also think I will get sick of too much Frenchy stuff. Shoot me. But really. I don't want to put hours into something to get sick of it next year...
here's some other ideas that had me ooing

This I found at Frontgate.com. I LOVED their stuff- couldn't afford any of it but it gave me many ideas!I would skip the monogram, though...

 I cannot remember where this was at- I think it was under Nextags... Maybe a different color? Or not...

Ah... Target! Love the design- but not the Puce greenish- I think I saw that in my sons diaper once years ago.

Frontgate again... Instead of the embroidery maybe a transfer of a crown, or Emmanuel in French script, or a pretty graphic of somesorts.

Wouldnt this be pretty in Damasks, and with fringe? No plaids, please...

Horchow had several things I liked, too but for some reason their pictures wouldn't save/copy.

I also have been thinking of this kind of stuffAlthough I think that silver would really show off my wall colors, and my red curtains. Sadly whoever decorated this room allowed the urns, and topiarys to blend in with the stone. So bland looking! Yet it could be fabulous! That is from homedecorators.com I believe...

Where do you get your decor inspiration? I am familiar with Pottery Barn, Horchow, Ballard Designs, Frontgate, and Inside Living.  Any you recommend? Hope those wheels are turning for Christmas!