Upcycled Frame Tray & a Giveaway

Yesterday I posted about Edie's fabulous e-book, 31 Days to a Heart of Hospitality.  Well, sweet Edie has offered one of her e-books for a giveaway.  If you would like a chance to win a copy of her book, go on over to her blog and read through some of her posts.  Then come back here and leave a comment telling me your favorite post.  The contest will be open until Tuesday, January 29.  Don't blame me if you can't tear yourself away from her spectacular blog.  It will draw you in and keep you there.

Now onto my latest project.  While moving things from the basement to my new craft studio I found this frame that I purchased at Salvation Army a long time ago.

The price was right and I loved the shape.

I decided it was long overdue for a new life.  I started by peeling off the backing.

It was glued on pretty well but it came off without too much trouble.

Then I proceeded to remove the picture and cardboard backing.  I wanted to save the cardboard for what I was going to do.  I had to removed these staples carefully so as not to rip it to shreds.

It needed a good cleaning.  It sat in the basement for far too long and it was dirty.  I washed it down with TSP.  I removed the glass and gave that a good washing.

Once it was dry I gave it a couple of coats of paint and primer in one.  I used Behr in Swiss Coffee (I think that's the correct color).  I had it on hand from my hutch redo.

I watered the paint down a bit so it wouldn't give a full coverage.  I like the original color showing through in spots.

I had this burlap left over from my mailbox project.  I had purchased two yards originally because I loved it.

I cut a piece of the burlap to fit and wrapped it around the original cardboard insert.

I inserted it in the frame and pulled it tight. Then glued down the edges.

To cover up the messy back I cut a piece of brown craft paper to the size of the frame

and hot glued it all around.

Here it is all finished.  I am using it as a try.  I think I may add some handles to it.  Not sure.  What do you think?  Handles or no handles?

I think I will head to Hobby Lobby because they have so many gorgeous handles, and see if there is anything that catches my eye.

This transformation is perfect and I am loving it.

I added some hydrangeas and a candle to the tray

and it sits on my hope chest. This hope chest came from Portugal and belonged to my grandmother.  

I am thinking of painting it.  I am a bit torn about it but think it would look fabulous with a new color. 

Should I do it?  If so, what color?????

Help me figure this out!!!  I am a bit torn about painting an heirloom but not happy with the current finish.

Don't forget to spread the word about the giveaway above.

I'm linking to these great parties. Come on over and join us.

Last Minute Projects & a ChristmasTour

It's been busy, busy here and no matter how often I have wanted to post I've always run out of time.  But I am finally here with a few last minute touches and projects.

I started my first project with a wooden stocking shape my hubby had cut out.

I have a book of vintage sheet music that is falling apart.

So I removed some pages and Mod Podged them onto the stocking.

Then I embellished it with some lace, chip board letters, and a book page rosette.

I also embellished some wooden snowflakes to add to packages for hubby's coworkers.

Now for the Christmas house tour.

Our tree

On the coffee table

A swag I embellished

Our hutch

A little Christmas cheer in the kitchen

My mini tree with vintage ornaments in our little sitting area at the top of our stairs.

I hope you enjoyed the tour.  Wishing all of you and your families a very Merry Christmas filled with peace, love and joy!!

Simple Felt Ruffle Tree Skirt

It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving has already past and we are now well into this Christmas season.  We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and a lot of great food.  I was so busy that I did not even take one picture.  What kind of blogger am I??  My son did snap a quick picture right before we sat down to eat.  I loved how pretty everything looked and really wished I had remembered to snap one.  I hope everyone had as wonderful a day as we did.

Right before Thanksgiving I began working on a tree skirt.  Ours had seen better days. I saw many I liked but the prices were high.  So I decided to give it a try.  I had all the supplies here at home.

I started with a yard of felt.  Folded it in fourths and then following Martha Stewart's tutorial I cut the skirt out.

Once the skirt was cut out I cut 4 inch strips from the felt to add as a ruffle around the cut edge.

I gathered and hot glue all the way around.

For a little added something I hot glued a silver ribbon over the ruffle.

Be warned~when working with hot glue and felt this is what your fingers will look like, making it very difficult to take pictures.

Once that was completed I cut out multiple leaf pattern from gray felt, then glued them at the inside edge of the silver ribbon and ruffle.

Then I chose some silver glitter paint and 

a snowflake stencil

and added some sparkly snowflakes to the tree skirt.

I am so happy with how it turned out. 

Although a bit time consuming it is quite an easy tree skirt.  I love the felt, so easy to work with and it created a soft backdrop for the glittery snowflakes.

The completed skirt

and under the tree.

There are so many projects I want to do before Christmas.  I think I may not sleep from now until then.

Linking to these great parties.

Cross One off the List

I have finally done it.  Finished a project!  YEAH!! There has been a creative dry spell here.  Most of our time has been occupied with accomplishing our home school goals for this year.  We are close to completing  everything on our list and I am feeling much better.  The past six weeks have been intense but good.  We both have such a sense of accomplishment.  

Organizing has been on the top of my list lately.  Things have gotten a bit out of control.  

I needed somewhere to corral all my unfinished crochet projects.  I always have more than one project going on at a time.

I posted about this project here.

I had this apple basket in my basement for a while (a couple of years, I think).

It definitely needed a new look.

I think everything looks better in a coat of white paint.  

I then stenciled YARN onto the front.

I don't have a vinyl cutting machine so I printed them, cut them, and traced them onto the basket.

I originally wanted to purchase wooden letters but I think our little puppy would have too much fun chewing them.  So I decided to paint them on.

After I traced them in pencil, I used this paint pen to fill them in.

Here it is freshly painted.

I then sanded the letters to distress them a bit.

Here it is filled and ready to go.  It will be great to have all my projects in one place ready to work on.

It feels great to have one project crossed off the list.  My next big project is our garden.  It definitely needs to be cleaned up and prepared for planting.  The weather here in April was quite warm and sunny but May has brought many days of rain and cool weather.  I'm hoping for some sun so I can prepare the garden for planting.  The planning has begun and I can't wait to plant.

Linking to: